Sharon man pleads guilty in fight that resulted in death

MERCER, Pa. -- Jerrold L. Allen, 31, of Sharon, has pleaded guilty to charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and making false reports to police in connection with the Nov. 16 death of Thomas E. Blakeley.
Allen had been charged with aggravated assault, but that charge was dropped in exchange for the guilty plea Monday to the lesser charges, said James P. Epstein, Mercer County district attorney.
Blakeley, 39, of Sharpsville, died when he was punched in the face and fell backward, hitting his head on the sidewalk outside the Blue Ribbon Grille on Broadway Avenue in Farrell. The death was ruled a homicide.
Allen at first told police that he had punched Blakeley but changed his story after Blakeley died a few hours after the assault, saying that Jaered N. Andrews, 24, of Westchester Court, Austintown, had thrown the punch.
Allen admitted kicking Blakeley in the chest after Blakeley was down.
Andrews, who was a contestant on the "American Idol" television show at the time, faces trial on a charge of simple assault. Allen said he initially took the blame to protect Andrews' appearance on the show.