Two men plead guilty to assaulting man outside tavern

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WILKES-BARRE — Two men pleaded guilty in Luzerne County Court for assaulting another man who sustained severe facial injuries outside a Wilkes-Barre tavern.

Dylan Kelly, 24, of Hoboken, N.J., and Griffin Rhodes, 24, of Milford, were charged by Wilkes-Barre police for assaulting John Natiello inside a tavern at North Main and Jackson streets on March 12, according to court records.

After security removed Kelly, Rhodes and Natiello, police in court records say Kelly and Rhodes attacked Natiello second time by punching, kicking and stomping on his head.

Natiello suffered a broken facial bones and a swollen right eye, court records say.

Kelly and Rhodes each pled guilty to simple assault, terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and harassment before Judge David W. Lupas.

Prosecutors withdrew aggravated assault against Kelly and Rhodes.

Court records say the three men knew each other in high school.

Kelly, represented by Attorney David V. Lampman II, and Rhodes, represented by Attorney Andrew J. Katsock III, are scheduled to be sentenced June 5.