Man gets 17 years in federal prison for abusing residents of Beaver County care facility

Karen Pennell showed the court a picture of her son.

She said he was a sweet, loving boy who had meningitis as an infant.

He developed seizures, had many surgeries, lost his vision on one side and had to relearn to walk. Over the years, Pennell told the judge, her son had countless teachers and therapists.

“Most people tell me how wonderful he is, and he hugs everyone,” she said. “I can’t imagine anyone hating him enough to hurt him.”

Pennell’s son was one of at least 13 residents at McGuire Memorial, a residential medical facility just outside New Brighton in Beaver County, who were abused by two careworkers there, federal prosecutors said.

The government said that Zachary Dinell and Tyler Smith would sometimes record themselves committing the crimes — taking video of themselves punching and kicking residents, choking them and rubbing hand sanitizer in their eyes.

On Thursday, Dinell, 29, formerly of Freedom, was ordered by U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan to serve 17 years in a federal prison.

He pleaded guilty in October to all 12 counts against him, including conspiracy and violating the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act. As part of the plea deal, Dinell agreed to a sentence of up to 17 years. The federal charges against Smith are still pending.

The indictment accused the two men of purposely targeting the victims because they were disabled and could not defend themselves.

Smith and Dinell were initially charged in Beaver County Common Pleas Court. Dinell pleaded guilty there to 28 counts, including neglect of a care-dependent person, endangering the welfare of children and invasion of privacy. He was ordered to serve 10-1/2 to 31 years in prison. However, he later withdrew his plea.

On Thursday, Dinell apologized to the victims and their families.

“I’m accepting full responsibility for what I did,” he said. “It was terrible. It was awful. I’ll never forgive myself for it.”

Pennell and three other women spoke at Dinell’s sentencing. They addressed the harm their loved ones endured and the ongoing aftermath.

Pennell told the court that it was a difficult decision to place her son in a care facility in the first place, but she chose McGuire because she believed he would be safe there.

“He had to be so confused and fearful. He must have wondered why he was causing him so much pain,” she said. “He can’t tell me how much it hurt. But that’s what (Dinell and Smith) counted on.”

Heather Harold spoke on behalf of her younger brother, Nicholas Maravich, who died of pneumonia on Oct. 31, 2017. He was 39 years old.

He was unable to speak or roll over during the abuse.

“Nicholas was the sweetest soul,” she said. “The simplest things brought him joy.”

When Maravich was still able to eat and drink, Harold said, he loved chocolate milk and cheese puffs. He was comforted by familiar surroundings and liked mylar balloons.

His sister said she continues to be sickened by the thought of the other victims having to watch and wait when others were being harmed.

“They were at his mercy, yet he showed none,” Harold said of Dinell.

Her mother, Catherine Wickline, also spoke, quoting the text messages Dinell sent to Smith.

“‘I’m going to (expletive) murder Nick. I choked the (expletive) out of him,’” he wrote.

“Day after day, week following week, month in and month out, Nick laid helpless with the others,” Wickline said. “These victims could sense what was coming and had no choice but to lay there helplessly waiting for it to end.”

Barbara Yogmas spoke on behalf of her son, who was 12 when he was victimized.

“My son has a life sentence for what’s been done to him,” she said. “I’m my son’s voice.”

Since her son, now 19, was harmed, Yogmas has been able to bring him home. She said he still has nightmares.

Speaking directly to Dinell, Yogmas said he pretended to be a good guy at the care facility.

“You’re not going to be rehabilitated here. You’re not going to fool me,” she said. “This guy is a monster.”

In addition to the prison term, Dinell must also serve three years of supervised release. During that time, Ranjan said that Dinell may not work in any health care setting or as a caregiver to children or disabled people.

Ranjan said that, in preparing for sentencing, he reviewed the video evidence multiple times.

Although the video was troubling and difficult to watch, the judge said that wasn’t the worst part of it for him.

What was, Ranjan told the families, was how the video was juxtaposed next to family photos showing the victims during happy times — smiling and laughing.

“There’s just not a way to get full justice,” the judge said, adding that there would, at least, be finality. “I think this was malicious, intentional and, for lack of a better term, evil.”