Danbury Man Convicted In Beatings

Of Two Newtown Men

By Andrew Gorosko

DANBURY — Following a weeklong criminal trial in Danbury Superior Court, a six-member jury last week convicted a Danbury man of first degree assault, and three other assault-related charges, stemming from an August 2004 Danbury incident during which two Newtown men were brutally beaten.

Late on the morning of March 23, the jury of four women and two men convicted Channy Nee Khuth, 20, on the charges. Jury deliberations began on the afternoon of March 21.

Sentencing in the case is slated for May 23. Khuth faces up to 60 years in prison as a result of the convictions on the four Class B felonies. Khuth is being held on $250,000 bail at Bridgeport Correctional Center.

Injured in the brutal assault were Timothy LaPak, 21, who was 19 at the time of the incident, and Kyle Coney, 23, who was 21 when the crimes occurred. Khuth was age 18 at the time.

At the time of the incident, Mr LaPak was a student at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, and Mr Coney was a student at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. The youths are longtime friends.

Mr LaPak is now working in the area. Mr Coney has moved away.

The beating incident left Mr LaPak hospitalized in a coma for a time. Mr Coney was also injured by the attack.

Criminal charges are still pending against three others who were involved in the beating. Trial dates have not yet been set. Those defendants are Wanner Nunez, Thomas Strick, and Amy Altberg.

On the night of August 2, 2004, Mr LaPak and Mr Coney were riding in an open-topped Jeep in Danbury, when someone in a vehicle in which Mr Khuth was riding tossed a beer can at the Jeep.

A verbal altercation between those in the two vehicles ensued. The auto in which Mr Khuth was riding pursued the Jeep. On catching the Jeep, Mr Khuth led his friends in a group attack against Mr LaPak and Mr Coney on Holley Street, beating them and causing Mr LaPak to lose consciousness.

Mr Khuth was arrested on the charges in April 2005, after Mr LaPak’s family offered a reward for information about who committed the crimes.

Assistant State’s Attorney David Shannon prosecuted the case, with the legal assistance of Candace Milligan and the aid of Inspector Richard Lindberg.

Mr Shannon said this week it is unclear what length prison sentence he will recommend to the judge when Mr Khuth’s sentencing occurs on May 23. The prosecutor said he would recommend “a substantial period of incarceration.”

Mr Coney offered powerful and convincing testimony at the trial, but Mr LaPak had no recollection of the incident, Mr Shannon said.

Mr LaPak sustained skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries as a result of the beating.

“The Danbury Police Department did an excellent job” in investigating the incident, the prosecutor said.

 Mr Shannon said the reward for information in the case offered by Mr LaPak’s family was instrumental in making arrests in the case.