Youngwood woman who assaulted her mother to be released from jail

A Youngwood woman charged two years ago with a assault of her elderly mother during a dispute over the volume of a Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game broadcast was expected to be released from jail late Monday.

Dolores Amorino, 42, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, simple assault and harassment for her role in the August 2017 attack against her then 78-year-old mother, who police said was beaten with a broom, kicked, choked, assaulted with chemicals, had her head shaved and was held captive for more than two days.

“My client was very remorseful and regrets the entire incident. She wants to move on with her life,” defense lawyer Tim Dawson said.

Police said Amorino and her then 17-year-old daughter, Sarah, argued with the older woman, with whom they lived, over the volume of a Steelers game broadcast.

The older woman locked herself in a bedroom when, police said, the mother and daughter broke down the door and began physically abusing her over two days. She was eventually able to escape as her daughter and granddaughter slept and walked a half-mile to the borough building to get help.

Since their arrest, both Delores Amorino and her daughter were jailed and spent time at Torrance State Hospital, where they were diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental health issues. During a competency hearing this year, a doctor testified both women were diagnosed with a rare psychological disorder in which they suffered from shared delusions.

Those delusions, according to their lawyers, involved the belief they each had romantic relationships with Steelers players, who they expected to intervene in their criminal cases.

Westmoreland County Judge Tim Krieger ruled in May that Delores Amorino was competent to stand trial but that her daughter needed continued hospitalization for her mental health issues.

The judge in September ruled there was not enough evidence to support charges of conspiracy and making terroristic threats against Delores Amorino, saying her daughter was the instigator in the attacks.

In court on Monday, Krieger sentenced Delores Amorino to serve 11¹⁄₂ to 23 months in jail and three additional years on probation. He ordered that Amorino be immediately paroled, that she continue her mental health treatments and have no contact with her mother.

Amorino will live in Vandergrift with a friend, Dawson said.

Sarah Amorino, now 20, is scheduled to appear Tuesday before Krieger for another hearing to determine if she is competent to stand trial.