Jury Delivers Split Verdict in Violent New Kensington Easter Egg Hunt Assault

A Westmoreland County jury has delivered a dramatic split verdict in the high-profile case stemming from a violent confrontation at a New Kensington Easter egg hunt. After a two-day trial, Anthony Bivins was found guilty of aggravated assault, simple assault, and conspiracy, while his sister, Breonna Bivins, was acquitted of all charges related to the chaotic incident that unfolded in April 2022.

The courtroom drama concluded with the jury’s decision, marking a significant legal outcome for the siblings involved in the widely reported altercation.

Anthony Bivins now faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison, with his sentencing scheduled for August 15 before Judge Christopher Feliciani.

The charges against the Bivins siblings stemmed from a heated dispute at New Kensington’s Memorial Park on Easter Saturday, April 16, 2022.

The confrontation, which quickly escalated into a physical fight, involved Chekita Jackson, who testified that she was repeatedly punched and kicked by both Anthony and Breonna Bivins during the incident.

During the intense trial, Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Pete Caravello presented a case built on Jackson's testimony, which described a sudden and brutal attack.

Jackson recounted how a disagreement over children picking up Easter eggs swiftly turned violent, leading to her being pulled from a car and subjected to an assault.

The prosecution also called other witnesses, including several children who were present at the event and witnessed portions of the altercation.

Their accounts, along with testimony from police officers, aimed to establish the sequence of events and the roles played by the defendants.

Defense attorney David Reick, representing Anthony Bivins, argued that his client acted in self-defense and that the prosecution's witnesses were not credible.

He contended that Jackson was the initial aggressor and that any actions taken by Anthony were in response to her aggression. Meanwhile, Breonna Bivins' attorney, Adam Gorzelsky, maintained that his client was misidentified and not involved in the physical assault on Jackson. The defense sought to cast doubt on the reliability of the eyewitness testimonies and challenged the overall narrative presented by the prosecution.

Key evidence presented during the trial included video footage of the incident.

However, the interpretation and clarity of this footage became a point of contention, with both sides offering differing perspectives on what it depicted. Despite the presence of this visual evidence, the jury's deliberations ultimately led to a distinct outcome for each sibling.

The jury’s split decision highlights the complexities of the case and the challenges of determining individual culpability in a chaotic group incident.

While Anthony Bivins was found responsible for the aggravated assault, marking a significant conviction, Breonna Bivins' acquittal signifies that the jury did not find sufficient evidence to hold her accountable for the charges brought against her. This verdict brings a contentious chapter in the community to a close, leaving one sibling to face the severe consequences of his actions and the other free from legal entanglement..