News

June 11, 2009

Man captured in Europe for assault of Hazleton couple

HAZLETON – Authorities captured a man wanted in connection with last fall’s home invasion and beating of a prominent older couple.

Anthony Cangiano, 35, whose last known address is 306 N. Fifth St., West Hazleton, was arraigned Wednesday on first- and second-degree felony counts of criminal conspiracy. He was recently captured in Europe by U.S. marshals.

Cangiano remains jailed at Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $250,000 bail.

Cangiano and Daniel J. Pinkney, 22, are accused of forcing their way into the home of Martha and Nick Caputo, both 78, of 190 S. Pine St. and assaulting them on Nov. 15.

Pinkney, who has no permanent address, was arrested and charged in April on counts of aggravated assault, burglary, simple assault, unlawful restraint, robbery and criminal conspiracy. He remains jailed on $500,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Martha Caputo was sleeping in the couch on the night of Nov. 15 when two masked men broke in at about 9 p.m. She awoke to one of the men smothering her. He threatened her with a handgun, demanded money and beat her with the gun.

Caputo told police she bit one of his fingers “to put a mark on him so that someone would be able to find this when she died.”

Nicholas Caputo, who was recuperating from surgery, came downstairs when he heard his wife’s screams. He was struck with brass knuckles, police said.

He escaped out a back door and ran for help. By the time he returned, both attackers had fled.

Police arrived to find the couple covered in blood. They were both transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.

A neighbor told police she saw a man wearing a jacket with square designs get out of an SUV about half a block south of the Caputos’ home shortly before the assaults. The witness later saw the man get into the vehicle and leave before police arrived.

On Nov. 22, Cangiano admitted he knew Pinkney but denied involvement in the late-night assaults, police said.

Search warrants were executed two days later on Cangiano’s home and on the SUV. Forensic tests found that the blood of Martha and Nicholas Caputo was in the vehicle.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 17 in Central Court.

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