State Rep. Tim O’Neal
A local state legislator wants to enact changes requiring magistrates to set cash bonds for suspects charged in violent crimes after a defendant who was released following a robbery last year allegedly fatally stabbed a man earlier this week.
State Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-South Strabane, posted on his official Facebook page Wednesday announcing plans to initiate articles of impeachment against District Judge Xander Orenstein, although the lawmaker walked back that statement Thursday, and said he would prefer to see legislation mandating monetary bonds for violent offenses.
“The key message I wanted to get with the (Facebook post) is we are willing to take all options on the table to ensure that these dangerous decisions stop,” O’Neal said in a phone interview Thursday.
Orenstein came under fire this week after Anthony Quesen was accused Monday of fatally stabbing state police liquor control enforcement agent Benjamin Brallier as he jogged on the Montour Trail in Moon Township. Quesen, who also goes by the name of Antonia Kaseim, was arrested and charged in June 2023 with the robbery and assault of a man in Point State Park in Pittsburgh. However, Orenstein released the defendant on non-monetary bond and the suspect never showed for subsequent hearings, leading to the bond being revoked.
“Really, what it comes down to is Allegheny County residents who voted for (Orenstein) were voting to let violent criminals out on the street,” said O’Neal, who serves as the House Republican whip. “I definitely think legislation that prevents judges from making these decisions – specifically for violent offenses – is needed. Impeachment might (also) be one of those routes.”
State Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, has introduced such legislation in the Senate, although it’s unclear whether there is the political will for it to pass both chambers or if it would even be deemed constitutional since it could handcuff a co-equal branch of government.
While O’Neal said initiating impeachment proceedings against Orenstein is still an option, the process is too late this year to happen immediately, and wouldn’t occur until January at the earliest when the new legislative session begins. Instead, he would like the state House to debate the issue around non-monetary bonds and find a bipartisan solution, with impeachment of Orenstein as a last resort option if the legislative process fails to produce results.
“The reality is we’re out of session days. Whatever happens, it basically has to start with the new session,” O’Neal said. “There are many colleagues who are interested in taking the lead on this. We want to get the word out there (that) we, the House Republicans, are willing to do anything that is necessary to correct the scenario.”
There’s been a spotlight on Orenstein for the past year over the magistrate’s propensity to offer defendants non-monetary bonds regardless of the circumstances.
In September 2023, Orenstein released Yan Carlos Cepeda of New York City despite him being arrested on a bus in Pittsburgh allegedly carrying a large amount of cocaine. With no monetary conditions tied to his release, Cepeda failed to show for his preliminary hearing and wasn’t located for months until he was arrested in New York.
In April, Orenstein set no monetary bail requirement for Hermas Craddock of Penn HIlls after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase that involved him allegedly throwing a handgun out the window. Craddock left the area and failed to show up for his preliminary hearing, and was eventually arrested in Florida.
After the second incident, Allegheny County’s court administrator and president judge stripped Orenstein from overseeing preliminary arraignments, which is when bond is set for criminal defendants.
“It’s been three times now. In order to prevent it in the future, we are willing to produce legislation that would go up to and even include impeachment,” O’Neal said. “We’ll have to wait and see whatever avenue we really want to go down to see what kind of political support we get in Harrisburg. There’s no doubt if the Pittsburgh Democratic representatives are listening to their constituents, they’ll support our efforts.”