Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by James Short.
Two friends have been charged with numerous felony and misdemeanor offenses by Pennsylvania State Police after one assaulted a disabled man with his own wheelchair and the other harbored him in his home and lied to police, according to an affidavit.
Francesco Pileggi, 39, of the 300 block of East Mount Kirk Avenue, Norristown, is charged with felony counts of hindering the apprehension or prosecution of an individual, hindering the apprehension or prosecution of an individual by providing or aiding in providing transportation, and hindering apprehension or prosecution by providing false information to police, according to court documents.
Pileggi is also charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice, per documents.
The man he is accused of harboring – Michael Longo, 39, of the 1300 block of Colwell Lane, Conshohocken – is charged with felony aggravated assault and felony burglary, as well as two misdemeanor counts of simple assault, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct, according to court records.
Pileggi was released on his own recognizance, according to court records, and no bail was set.
Longo remains in Montgomery County prison on $99,000 cash bail, according to court documents.
Police allege the Longo broke into the home of a friend of his spouse, assaulted him, and then fled the scene, before being picked up by Pileggi in his silver 2008 Ford F-250 Supercab pickup and then brought to Pileggi’s home where he was hidden inside a locked bathroom.
On April 27 at 9:55 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police received 911 call from a woman saying she was on phone with a friend who lives on the 1000 block of Quarry Hall Road in Worcester Township, when suddenly she heard forced entry being made into her friend’s home and then could hear fighting on the other end, police said.
The woman identified the burglar as Longo, authorities allege in the affidavit, who has an active Protection from Abuse order and two PFA violation warrants.
The victim called police to report his address and related that Longo just attacked him and fled his home, possibly with the assistance of Pileggi, according to the complaint.
When police arrived to the victim’s home, they found him outside suffering from bruises and bleeding from the mouth, face and arms, police said. Police also found a 10-pane glass door that was ajar and shattered from forced entry, police said.
The victim recounted to police that he was sleeping in his bedroom after drinking, and then received a phone call from his friend. During this time, he heard several loud noises outside his home and then heard glass shatter, according to the affidavit.
Then, police said, he heard Longo shout, “Where the f--- are you at? Where you at, m-------r?”
Police said the victim could not attach his prosthetic leg in time, before Longo burst into his bedroom and saw him lying on the bed. Longo, police allege, picked up the victim’s wheelchair and threw it at him, then continued assaulting him by hitting him 10 times with a closed fist to his head. Then, police said, the victim was forced off the bed and assaulted on the floor.
Longo then fled the home, and the victim put on his leg, and pursued Longo out of the house and down Methacton Avenue, before he was allegedly picked up by Pileggi, police said.
Police arrived at Pileggi’s home, where he walked out of the garage and said, “I’m the owner of this house.” Pileggi told police, per the complaint, that he was on Quarry Hall Road after getting a phone call from Longo and “picked a buddy off the street.”
Pileggi told police, “I dropped him off on the road. I did, I said I’m not getting involved with this,” according to the complaint. He said he dropped Longo off “at the buses” and told officers, “I got family, I don’t need to be getting involved with that. Once I found out what it was I said, I’m done. You can’t be calling me for this stuff.”
Police asked Pileggi to search his home and garage, but he refused, according to authorities. About 20 minutes later, police said, a member of Pileggi’s household came outside and told police they heard something in the house. The family member granted a search of the home, and Longo was eventually found in a locked bathroom, police said.
“You knew something was going on,” police said to Pileggi, per the complaint.
“I did, and I didn’t tell you to leave,” Pileggi responded. “He’s in there, you know we want him,” police replied, according to the complaint. Pileggi then said, according to police, “Yea, I wanted it over with … I’m not an idiot. I know you guys wanted him.”
Pileggi and Longo both have preliminary hearings set for May 29 at 1 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Adam T. Katzman.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
