Trial in baseball bat assault to begin
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By RICK SETCHELL / Plattsmouth Journal
PLATTSMOUTH — After months of delay, Travis Meisinger will face trial Tuesday on assault charges.
Meisinger, 19, of Weeping Water is accused of beating Tony Premo Sr. with a baseball bat Sept. 9.
Two other defendants, Anthony Houchin, 18, and Joshua Hauschild, 22, both of Weeping Water, also are accused of taking part in the assault.
- 6.9.08: Trials for three accused in Plattsmouth beating continued
- 3.31.08: New trial dates set for men in baseball bat attack
- 11.21.07: Not guilty pleas entered in Plattsmouth assault case
- 10.18.07: Suspects in Plattsmouth bat beating to stand trial
- 10.2.07: Plattsmouth man home from the hospital after attack
- 9.19.07: Suspects in Plattsmouth beating arraigned
- 9.18.07: Two Weeping Water teens charged in baseball beating
The jury trial for Meisinger is expected to last two to three days.
Cass County Attorney Nathan Cox said he is offering “use immunity” to Hauschild and Houchin in order to use their testimony against Meisinger. Cox said this does not mean they will be free from prosecution.
“This means I can’t use their statements against them at some future trial on the issue,” Cox said. “It doesn’t mean that they are walking away from this at all.”
Cox anticipates calling “about a dozen” witnesses, including Premo, who continues to recover from injuries received in the assault that left him in a coma and with a broken arm. He has returned to work at A-1 Heating and Air.
Plattsmouth Police Chief Brian Paulsen said at a press conference last year that the entire matter took place because of a failed relationship between two teenagers.
A skirmish broke out between teens from Weeping Water and Plattsmouth at the Premo residence at about 1:30 a.m. Sept. 9.
The disturbance woke up Premo and his wife, Tracey. As Tony Premo walked onto the front porch of his residence, he was struck in the arm, and then in the head with a baseball bat.
After an investigation, Meisinger, Houchin and Hauschild were named suspects and turned themselves in.
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