2 Youngstown men plead guilty to assault charges

YOUNGSTOWN — Two men have pleaded guilty to two charges each of felonious assault for their role in the beating of two men in an Ohio Avenue home on the city’s North Side in November.

William Rotan, 30, of Youngstown-Hubbard Road, Hubbard, and Jose Reyes Jr., 29, of Romaine Avenue, Boardman, each face up to 16 years in prison when they are sentenced at 2 p.m. June 19 by Judge Maureen A. Sweeney in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Rob Andrews, an assistant county prosecutor, said Rotan and the two victims worked together in a landscaping business at the time of the beating.

Rotan and Reyes severely beat one of the victims, Robert Walton, 29, Andrews said, and also hit the second man with a pool cue, Andrews said.

Police said the beating, which took place in Walton’s home, sent Walton to St. Elizabeth Health Center in critical condition with injuries to his back, side, torso and face. The other man’s injuries were less serious, Andrews said.

In exchange for Rotan and Reyes’ pleading guilty, prosecutors dropped a charge of attempted murder against each.