A Schuylkill County jury found Eric Kohl guilty on two felony counts of attempted aggravated assault and several lesser charges in the Route 61 road rage trial Wednesday.
The jury of nine women and three men did acquit Kohl, 30, of Orwigsburg, of an attempted homicide charge.
At the prosecution’s request, Kohl’s bail was immediately modified by Schuylkill County President Judge Jacqueline Russell from unsecured to $100,000 straight. Kohl was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison.
However, as deputies from Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Dept. came to escort Kohl to prison, he collapsed on the floor of the Courtroom 1. He was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Wednesday’s verdict concluded a two-day trial in which Kohl was accused of firing four shots at another motorist, Blake Kurten, on Route 61 in West Brunswick Township on Nov. 19, 2024. The two had been going back-and-forth with each other in their vehicles from about the highway’s intersection with Route 895 in Molino to its intersection at Municipal Rd., near Deer Lake.
At that final intersection, both men eventually got out of their vehicles. And as Kurten approached the front of his vehicle, Kohl admitted to taking his 9mm handgun from his waistband and firing four shots.
During the trial, police testimony showed that two of the bullets struck Kurten’s pickup truck. Kurten, however, was not struck by any of the shots.
Jurors heard testimony from Kurten and Kohl on Tuesday, each telling them their side of what happened. Kohl claimed he acted in self-defense when he fired the shots.
By its verdict, the jury believed Kohl did not intend to kill Kurten but did intend to cause him bodily harm.
On Wednesday, attorneys for each side presented closing arguments and jurors then deliberated for about two hours before returning their verdict. Guilty verdicts were also returned on charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment, both misdemeanors. The attempted aggravated assault charges were first- and second-degree felonies.
Russell found Kohl guilty of disorderly conduct, which was reduced to a summary charge during the trial.
A pre-sentence investigation to determine the length of Kohl’s incarceration will take between 30-45 days.
FULL COVERAGE:
- Credibility of Testimony Questioned During First Day of Route 61 Road Rage Trial; Jurors to Get Case Wednesday
- Orwigsburg Man Charged with Attempted Homicide for Allegedly Firing Shots at Victim in Route 61 Road Rage Incident
- Alleged Road Rage Victim Says He Dove Behind Vehicle After Seeing Flashes from Kohl’s Gun
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