Man who assaulted Geno's worker gets 6-23 months

A judge yesterday sentenced a 20-year-old Devon man - convicted of assaulting a Geno's Steaks employee - to six to 23 months in county prison with work release.

Kevin Bacci will be allowed to work weekdays, but will spend nights and weekends in jail. His surrender date is May 18.

Common Pleas Judge Thomas Dempsey ordered the sentence to be followed by four years' probation, followed by random drug testing. He ordered Bacci to pay $1,000 in restitution to victim Tony Chestnut.

The judge convicted Bacci in February of aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person for the Dec. 27, 2007, assault on 9th Street near Passyunk Avenue, outside the cheesesteak eatery. He acquitted co-defendant Michael Morrison, 23, of Malvern, of all charges.

Yesterday, Bacci's family members asked the judge to give Bacci probation. About 30 people, including family and friends, showed up in support.

Bacci's mother, Linda Price-Bacci, called her son "a role model."

Bacci, a West Chester University student who was a wrestler at Conestoga High School, yesterday apologized to Chestnut, 33, saying, "I never meant to hurt you."

Assistant District Attorney Dawn Holtz told the judge that Chestnut "was in severe pain," suffered a dislocated shoulder and hearing loss, and has medical bills piling up. *