Rimersburg Man Sent to State Prison on Aggravated Assault Conviction

CLARION, Pa. — A Rimersburg man who was jailed on attempted homicide charges last July was recently sentenced to serve time in state prison.

According to court documents, Dennis Golden Reesman, 60, was sentenced to 30 to 60 months by Clarion County President Judge James Arner.

Reesman pleaded guilty to one first-degree felony count of Aggravated Assault.

As part of the plea deal, the following charges were dismissed:

– Criminal Attempt — Criminal Homicide, Felony 1
– Aggravated Assault, Felony 2 (one count)
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Terroristic Threats W/ Int To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1 (four counts)
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)

Court documents indicate Reesman is serving his time in the state prison in Camp Hill.

Details of the Case

According to a criminal complaint filed by Trooper Manns, the charges stem from an incident that occurred on July 4, 2017, around 9:45 a.m. on private property located at 6509 Route 68.

Multiple troopers were dispatched to the scene after police received a call from the victim stating that Reesman fired a rifle at him.

The criminal complaint states the incident occurred after Reesman arrived at the property in a white Saturn coupe and approached the victim.

The victim, who was seated on a lawn mower, stopped mowing grass when he saw Reesman approaching him with the rifle.

According to the criminal complaint, Reesman allegedly pointed the .22 caliber rifle at the victim’s face and stated that he was “tired of him.”

The victim grabbed the rifle and forced the barrel away from his face. At this point, the rifle discharged and struck a travel trailer behind the victim.

A scuffle ensued and the victim eventually gained control of the rifle, pinning it underneath himself. Reesman then allegedly jumped on top of the victim and used his knee and/or elbow to pin him to the ground by his neck. The victim remained on top of the rifle while pinned to the ground.

During the scuffle, Reesman allegedly stated numerous times that he was going to kill the victim and, at one point, allegedly said, “you are dead.”

Reesman also allegedly stated that he would “cut” the victim, according to the criminal complaint.

Reesman eventually agreed to leave the property, but would not do so without his rifle.

The victim ensured the rifle was unloaded and returned it to Reesman.

Reesman returned to his nearby home and parked behind the residence. He then allegedly hid the rifle under an adjacent black Chevrolet Cavalier.

Police located the Saturn and found fresh tire tracks showing both the path and direction of travel through the grass behind his residence.

A machete was found in plain view on the passenger side of the Saturn. The rifle was recovered from underneath the black Chevrolet Cavalier.

Both the victim and Reesman had numerous minor lacerations, abrasions, and red marks consistent with being involved in a scuffle.

Reesman was taken into custody without incident.

RELATED STORIES