Louis Weihbrecht leaves the Luzerne County Courthouse on Wednesday after Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. convicted him of third-degree murder in the vehicle death of Mark Svadeba in Plains Township on Sept. 13, 2024.
Ed Lewis | Times Leader
Svadeba
WILKES-BARRE — When Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. announced his verdict, Louis Weihbrecht did not flinch as he sat shackled next to his attorney, John B. Pike, on Wednesday.
Weihbrecht, 57, was found guilty of third-degree murder in the vehicle run-over death of Mark Svadeba, 47, in front of Lou’s Garage on North Main Street, Plains Township, on Sept. 13, 2024.
Sklarosky announced his verdict after two days of testimony from witnesses presented by Assistant District Attorney James L. McMonagle, who championed a first-degree murder conviction, while Pike advocated for manslaughter. Earlier this week, Weihbrecht pled guilty to a general count of criminal homicide, opting to have Sklarosky select the degree level.
Prior to announcing his verdict, Sklarosky warned the packed courtroom to maintain their emotions and not disrupt the proceedings.
“Following a degree of guilt hearing, the Court determined that Louis Weihbrecht is guilty of third-degree murder and specifically rejected the Commonwealth’s request for a finding of first-degree murder,” Pike stated. “That distinction is critically important. The Court carefully evaluated the evidence and concluded that the Commonwealth did not meet its burden to prove the elements necessary for first-degree murder under Pennsylvania law. While this is a serious outcome, Mr. Weihbrecht and his family are relieved that the court recognized the limits of the evidence and declined to impose the most severe finding available.”
Weihbrecht, former owner of the defunct Outsiders Bar on South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12. He could face up to 40 years in state prison.
If he had been found guilty of first-degree murder, Weihbrecht faced life in prison.
Plains Township police in court records said Weihbrecht showed up at Lou’s Garage and encountered Svadeba outside, standing next to his Harley Davidson Motorcycle on Sept. 13, 2024.
The two men had a long-standing dispute over Tommarra Purta, 45, whom they both dated.
Purta testified earlier this week that she had an “on-off again” relationship with Svadeba and began a relationship with Weihbrecht shortly after she began working at his tavern.
During the guilt level phase this week, McMonagle and Pike heavily used surveillance footage of the incident.
Footage showed Weihbrecht arriving in his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and pulling into the parking area as Svadeba stepped in front of the truck and waved his arms.
The garage owner, Lou Giomboni, testified that the two men always argued but never to the point of a physical confrontation.
Giomboni testified he heard Weihbrecht rev the engine on the truck and accelerate, striking Svadeba, who was dragged as Weihbrecht’s truck fishtailed onto North Main Street.
Weihbrecht stopped and reversed, running over Svadeba before fleeing the scene.
Svadeba died from multiple traumatic injuries caused by a motor vehicle. His death was ruled a homicide by the county Coroner’s Office.
Pike said Svadeba was at fault for his own demise, supporting his argument by using Dr. John Wurpel, a toxicologist and pharmacologist, as a defense witness.
Wurpel testified Svadeba had “high levels” of methamphetamine that resulted in being agitated, hyperactive, with disturbed behavior and diminished judgment.
Using video footage, Pike illustrated that Svadeba stood in front of Weihbrecht’s truck but moved to the driver’s side when Weihbrecht accelerated with the intention to strike Svadeba’s motorcycle.
McMonagle countered using the same footage to show Weihbrecht was aware Svadeba stood in front of his truck when he accelerated forward.
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