Dreischalick

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A senior judge issued a stern warning after a city man pleaded guilty to attacking a juvenile, stating he would be “looking at serious time” if the no-contact order he put in place was violated.

Jayden Alan Dreischalick, 21, told Senior Judge Richard A. Lewis of Dauphin County that he understood and would stay away from the victim.

Dreischalick, who appeared Friday in Blair County Court alongside defense attorney Devin Matthew Bennati, pleaded guilty to felony counts of intimidating a witness, robbery, aggravated assault and criminal use of a communication facility in exchange for 10 years’ probation.

The case was brought after Dreischalick and co-defendant Gage M. Harf, 20, who faced identical charges, attacked a 16-year-old boy who was riding his bike at the intersection of East First Avenue and Lloyd Street on April 18, 2024.

Dreischalick, who wore a ski mask, shouted “Are you that snitch” before assaulting the victim. The question stemmed from the victim’s alleged provision of information to police, which resulted in multiple arrests in a 2024 New Year’s Day attempted homicide case.

In addition to the 10 years’ probation, Dreischalick was sentenced to nine to 18 months’ incarceration at the Blair County Prison, with 18 months of credit for time served. He was also ordered to pay $1,800 in fines.

District Attorney Pete Weeks told Lewis that his original plea offer to Dreischalick was 15 months to 10 years’ imprisonment but there was “a lot of back and forth” with the case.

Rather than continue “kicking the can down the road,” Weeks said he was moving forward with the more lenient agreement “against my better judgment.”

Lewis then addressed Dreischalick and said the charges he was pleading to were what he often referred to as “red flag” charges. Except for homicide and crimes against children, it “doesn’t get more serious than” witness intimidation, Lewis said.

Lewis told Dreischalick that he was retiring at the end of the year so he wanted the fact that “I gave you every warning” to be clear on the record for any future judge who may handle the case.

“I am telling you this in the strongest terms,” Lewis said. “If this no-contact order is violated, you should get slammed.”

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.