Crime & Safety

Roxen Road Defendants to Appear in Court Wednesday, Thursday

All five defendants will head to Nassau County First District Court this week.

The five Rockville Centre teenagers who allegedly assaulted a resident on Roxen Road back in June are heading to court again this week.

William Moore, Matthew Diperna, Kevin Coyle, William Nelson and Nolan Kelly have all been charged with second-degree gang assault — a C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Moore and Diperna, both 18, were arrested one day apart, mere hours from their South Side High School graduation. The duo will appear in Nassau County First District Court on Wednesday

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Coyle, Nelson and Kelly will appear in court Thursday.

Coyle, 18, was arrested three weeks later at his home after the Rockville Centre and Nassau County Police departments discovered his involvement through a joint investigation. Nelson and Kelly, also 18, were both arrested on Dec. 27 after turning themselves in to the First Precinct in Nassau County.

Find out what's happening in Rockville Centrewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to police, the assault happened when the wife of the victim was walking her dog on Nottingham Road and was verbally accosted by five to eight young men. She ran home and told her husband of the incident, and the two drove around the neighborhood looking for the men to demand an apology.

They found the group on Roxen Road, which is where the assault took place, police said. Neighbors who heard the disturbance called police at 11:55 p.m. The men fled before police arrived and Nassau County detectives were called in to join the investigation.

The man was transported by Rockville Centre police to Mercy Medical Center where he was treated for broken ribs, multiple contusions and injuries to the face and jaw.

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John R. Lewis Jr., the attorney for DiPerna, told Patch in July that the his client is innocent and that the victim was responsible for the start of the physical altercation.

"It is my contention that the alleged victim was not looking for an apology, but started the physical altercation," he said. "... I believe these boys will be vindicated at the end of the day."

Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray spoke out after the incident, stating that he would not tolerate behavior like this in the village.

"I try to be a calm and reserved man, but I must admit that this outrageous assault has my blood boiling," Murray said. "I am infuriated that such a thing could happen in our village."


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