Judge Burton Kaplan gave accelerated rehabilitation Thursday to two Derby men charged in connection to a March 2010 fight outside Connie’s on Elizabeth Street.
If Anthony DeFala and Richard Valenti stay out of trouble for the next 18 months, the charges against them will be dropped.
DeFala, a former member of the Derby tax board, and Valenti got into a fight with Ronald Sabatini shortly after last call at the bar.
The altercation, according to witness statements, started after Sabatini’s friend insulted a group by asking “What’s this, Jersey Shore?”
Valenti shoved Sabatini while DeFala blind-sided him with a punch to the head, according to an arrest warrant.
Sabatini hit his head on the ground. He was hospitalized and in a coma for a period after the fight.
DeFala had been charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and second-degree breach of peace, a misdemeanor.
Valenti had been charged with with two misdemeanors — second-degree breach of peace and third-degree assault.
Sabatini’s lawyer did not object to the accelerated rehabilitation for the two men. Neither did prosecutor John Kerwin.
Because of the assault, Sabatini has a civil lawsuit pending against Mayor Anthony Staffieri’s sons and Aldermanic President Ken Hughes’ brother. The group used to own Connie’s until a falling out last year.
DeFala and Valenti are also named as defendants in that civil lawsuit.
