State house member Jim Struzzi made an announcement Saturday afternoon that a law that will be introduced on Monday in the House will make the punishment harsher for people who intentionally cause bodily injury to someone physically or mentally disabled.
(Dana Detwiler and Cody Overdorff, left, listen as Jim Struzzi makes the announcement about “Cody’s Law” being introduced on Monday. Photo by Josh Widdowson)
It was during a Basket Party fundraiser for Cody Overdorff at the Bolivar American Legion that Struzzi introduced to Cody, and the family and friends gathered there that the bill, called “Cody’s Law” would be introduced on Monday. Overdorff, who lives with a mild case of Williams Syndrome, was lured out to the Hoodlebug trail and attacked by Jordan Kinney, Dakota Patterson, Katelyn Lemley, and Cory Blystone on August 20th.
Struzzi said that Cody’s Law would elevate the charge against someone who physically hurts someone physically or mentally disabled from misdemeanor simple assault to second degree aggravated assault. Struzzi said when he heard the news, he was shocked at what had happened.
Cody’s mother, Dana Detwiler said that she and Cody were very happy with the announcement of Cody’s Law.
Meanwhile, a Plea and Sentencing hearing for Blystone has been set for January 29th of next year. The three others are awaiting formal arraignments in the county’s court of common pleas. The four face charges ranging from stalking to harassment in this case.
