A Schuylkill County man facing attempted homicide and other related charges in connection with an alleged road rage incident last year appears headed to trial in January.
On Friday morning, Douglas Taglieri, the attorney representing Eric Kohl, 30, of Orwigsburg, said his client is ready to go to trial during the January 2026 trial period.
Schuylkill County District Attorney Mike O’Pake revealed today that Kohl has turned down a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for 8½-20 years.
Court of Common Pleas Judge William Burke advised Kohl that if he goes to trial and is ultimately found guilty of the charges he’s facing, he could be looking at a sentence much longer than the one the DA’s office has offered.
Commonwealth v. Kohl: Road Rage Case Recap
Kohl is facing charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct stemming from a Nov. 19, 2024, road rage incident in West Brunswick Township during which it’s alleged Kohl fired a gun several times at another motorist.
According to testimony presented at a preliminary hearing in February, the altercation began as a road rage dispute on Route 61-North.
The victim, Blake Kurten, testified in District Court that he was driving home from work when Kohl’s pickup truck cut him off and “brake-checked” him multiple times. Kurten admitted during testimony that he engaged with Kohl during the dispute, at one point turning on his vehicle’s off-road “ditch lights” to shine a spotlight on Kohl’s truck.
The situation escalated when both drivers stopped at the intersection of Route 61 and Municipal Rd.
Kurten testified that both men exited their vehicles and began arguing. Under cross-examination by Taglieri, Kurten admitted that he “advanced” toward Kohl and got within “arguing distance” before shots were fired.
Kurten told the court he saw Kohl reach for a hip holster and draw a weapon.
“The next thing I know, he’s pulling out a firearm and shooting at me,” he testified.
He stated he saw muzzle flashes and dove behind his vehicle for cover. Police alleged Kohl fired multiple rounds, striking Kurten’s vehicle and leaving bullet holes in the passenger side. Investigators later recovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun from Kohl’s residence and shell casings from the highway.
During the February hearing, Kohl’s attorney argued for dismissal, contending that his client acted in self-defense because Kurten had advanced on him during the confrontation.
Magisterial District Judge A.J. Serina rejected that request, ruling that the self-defense claim was a factual dispute that a jury must decide at trial.
Kohl has remained free on $500,000 unsecured bail.
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