Youngwood teenager Keim to stand trial in stabbing

A Youngwood teenager was ordered to stand trial as an adult Tuesday on an attempted homicide charge despite pleas that the 17-year-old was “scared” and believed he was protecting his family when he stabbed a man who was scuffling with his father outside their home.

Senior District Judge Robert Scott said he “reluctantly” ruled there was sufficient evidence for Earl S. Keim IV, a senior at Hempfield High School, to stand trial for stabbing Justin Kalich, 34, at Keim's home.

Scott noted arguments by defense attorney Richard Galloway that Keim should be protected under the Castle Doctrine, a state law permitting citizens to use deadly force when they're fearful for their life or property, but said it was an issue that should be addressed by a Common Pleas Court judge or jury.

Even the prosecutor, Deputy Attorney General Patrick Schulte, admitted in his closing argument that the Castle Doctrine “is a valid issue here.”

“However, this should not be an issue at this preliminary hearing stage, but at the trial level,” he said.

The charges stem from an incident shortly before 2 a.m. Dec. 10 when Keim's father, Earl Keim III, who walks with a cane, and Kalich became involved in an altercation that moved from the home's front porch onto the sidewalk, according to reports.

Galloway said his client had no choice but to intervene in the argument.

But Schulte said, “Here you have the stabbing victim who is being poked and pushed by a cane or walking stick, and he testified he wanted to leave, but Earl Keim III kept pushing ... poking at him.”

Schulte argued that testimony indicated the younger Keim, who stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs more than 250 pounds, watched the confrontation unfold outside, then “went back inside and retrieves a knife from his bedroom stand instead of calling 911 or some other authority for help.”

Kalich was critically injured and initially placed on life support in Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, where he underwent several surgeries during his eight-day stay.

The Youngwood resident said he could remember only portions of the evening.

He testified he ate and began drinking “Yuengling and shots of Yukon Jack” at Delaney's tavern in Youngwood about 8 p.m. and remembers seeing the elder Keim there with another man, who was staying at the Keim home.

Kalich, an unemployed electrician, said he went to the Keim residence about 1 a.m. to invite the house guest to his nearby home to show him his new weight room.

Kalich testified the elder Keim answered the door, told him “it was too late” and instructed him to leave.

But state police Trooper Ray Andrekanic said the younger Keim told investigators that he initially answered the door and went outside to retrieve the family dog that escaped as Kalich refused to leave.

The teen said he told Kalich three times to leave before his father became angry, Andrekanic said.

Under cross-examination by Galloway, Kalich said he could not recall how much beer or whiskey he consumed before walking to the Keims' home.

Kalich said he could not recall seeing the younger Keim during the confrontation, saying he could only remember the elder Keim “poking me, pushing me back with that cane or walking stick.”

“I was leaving. ... I was backing up. I was afraid to turn around because I thought (the elder Keim) would hit me with that stick,” Kalich said.

Earl Keim IV is the grandson of former Westmoreland County Register of Wills Earl Keim II and great-grandson of the late Common Pleas Court Judge Earl Keim Sr.

State Attorney General Kathleen Kane's office is prosecuting the case at the request of Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck. Peck asked Kane's office to handle the case to avoid any potential conflict of interest because he is friends with Earl Keim II and knew the late judge.

The younger Keim remains free after posting a $25,000 bond.

Paul Peirce is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.