Altoona man’s attempted murder sentence upheld
Oechsle’s attorney argued sentence for stabbing inmates was excessive
Trending
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Blair County judge upheld the lengthy sentence imposed on a city man convicted in May of attempted homicide after stabbing two fellow inmates at the Blair County Prison in October 2023.
President Judge Wade A. Kagarise sentenced Raymond Thomas Oechsle, 54, in mid-June to about 36 to 73 years in a state correctional facility. Oechsle was found guilty of a felony count of attempted homicide, four felony counts of aggravated assault, two felony counts of assault by prisoner on another and two misdemeanor counts each of possession of a weapon, inmate procures a weapon and recklessly endangering another person following a two-day jury trial in May.
Defense attorney Thomas Dickey filed the petition for relief on Oechsle's behalf, asking the court to modify his sentence as it was "unreasonable and manifestly excessive" and "was not consistent with the protection of the public, the gravity of the offense as it related to the impact on the life of the victim and on the community and the rehabilitative needs of (Oechsle) and deviated from the fundamental norms of the sentencing code."
In an opinion and order filed Sept. 29, Kagarise denied and dismissed the petition, writing that state law allowed sentencing judges to "sentence up to and including the maximum sentence authorized by statute; the only line that a sentence may not cross is the statutory maximum sentence."
Kagarise noted that Oechsle's sentence was not outside guideline parameters and the criminal acts within the case "were particularly violent."
"We believe that the sentence imposed is necessary for the safety of the community, especially in light of (Oechsle's) prior acts of violence," Kagarise wrote. "We also believe that (Oechsle) showed a complete lack of remorse for his criminal activity."
Oechsle will have 30 days to appeal Kagarise's decision to the state Superior Court.
The case was brought against Oechsle on Oct. 19, 2023, when he was captured on prison cameras approaching John Javit from behind and began to stab him in the face. When Javit fell to the floor, Oechsle entered an open cell and stabbed Larry Lykens.
Oechsle has several remaining active cases, including a 2025 case of alleged institutional vandalism and two 2024 cases alleging Oechsle procured a weapon for himself.
Oechsle was originally arrested in April 2023 after being found squatting in an Altoona apartment with the corpse of 38-year-old Christopher Helsel. Police documents state that Oechsle admitted to killing Helsel and living with his body for three days.
Oechsle is incarcerated at State Correctional Institute Forest.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.