Man Sentenced In 2014 Bar Brawl

A man who played what the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office called a “leading role” in the 2014 attack on a volunteer firefighter outside a Bristol Township bar was sentenced last week.

Onorio Vila Velez, 21, was sentenced by Judge Diane E. Gibbons to five to 10 years in state prison. He previously pleaded guilty to a series of charges including aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault in connection with the August 2014 incident outside the Stadium Bar and Grill on Woerner Avenue by Five Points.

Authorities said the melee ended with several assaults and 21-year-old Falls Township volunteer firefighter Steven Basalyga stabbed in the chest.

Following a grand jury investigation, 10 men were charged by police.

Velez had recently been found in contempt of court for contacting his family, violating the judge’s order. The reason for the order, according to a press release, was because of statements by prosecutors that Velez and his relatives attempted to contact some of the 21 year old’s co-defendants at previous court appearances.

From the district attorney’s office:

The violence began inside the bar near closing time, toward the end of a $2 drink promotion that had attracted hundreds of patrons. Shortly after a punch was thrown inside the bar, a large group of customers moved outside and began fighting, according to previous court testimony.

Velez had been drinking inside with several friends, among them the man who had been punched at the bar. After the mass of patrons moved outside, Velez and two others attacked one of the victims, Steven Basalyga, as he stood in front of the bar.

One of the attackers struck Basalyga in the back of the head, causing him to lurch forward. A second man then broke his nose with a punch to the face. Finally, Velez struck Basalyga once in the chest with an upward motion, dropping him to the ground.

Basalyga was found to have suffered a life-threatening stab wound to his chest. He was taken to St. Mary Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

Velez then attacked a second victim, identified as Nick Sylvia, who had been involved in the earlier altercation inside the bar with Velez’s friend. Velez punched and kicked Sylvia several times as Sylvia tried to get into the passenger seat of a vehicle. Sylvia also was attacked by several of Velez’s accomplices.

Velez and the others then beat the driver of the car, Kelan Caccavella, who suffered bruises and stab wounds to his shoulder. Damage done to his vehicle by the assailants was estimated at more than $5,000.

As Caccavella sped away after the attack, a fourth man, Philip Black, was struck and injured by the car. All of the victims have recovered from their injuries.

Basalyga was eventuality released from the hospital and has since recovered.

Six of the men arrested in connection with the wild night at the bar have pleaded guilty. The remaining four are still awaiting competition of their cases.