Oct. 23, 2024
WASHINGTON – House Republican Whip Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) today announced he plans to introduce a resolution to impeach Magisterial District Judge Xander Orenstein of Allegheny County after he released a man on no-cash bail who then allegedly killed a state law enforcement officer this week.
“This killing could have happened anywhere, including Washington County,” O’Neal said. “The criminals Xander Orenstein has been turning loose without bail have been free to roam the entire region. This magisterial district justice is a danger to citizens across western Pennsylvania, and I intend to see him removed from office before the death of another individual.”
Orenstein released Anthony Quesen, who also goes by the name Antonia Kaseim, after he was charged with the criminal assault and robbery of a man in Pittsburgh’s Point State Park in June 2023.
Quesen/Kasseim failed to appear for trial, had his no-cash bail revoked and remained a fugitive until Monday when he was arrested in the stabbing death of Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Enforcement Agent Benjamin Brallier.
“There is no way someone using an alternate name, and charged in a brazen assault and robbery in a public park should have been turned loose without bail,” O’Neal said.
Orenstein was already under scrutiny for two prior instances in which he released dangerous suspects without requiring bail. Endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America’s Pittsburgh chapter, Orenstein ran on a platform opposing cash bail for suspects.
In September 2023, Orenstein freed Yan Carlos Cepeda of New York City without bail after he was picked up with more than a kilogram of cocaine at a city bus station. Cepeda failed to show for a hearing and remained on the loose for several months before being apprehended by New York police.
Orenstein later let a Sharpsburg man walk free without bail. Hermas Craddock was accused of leading state police on a high-speed chase on Route 28, attempting to ram a police cruiser and tossing a gun from the car window. At the time, Craddock was already free on bail on separate felony gun charges.
“A judge who lets dangerous suspects on the street as a matter of routine policy poses a danger to all Pennsylvanians,” O’Neal said. “In my capacity as a House member, I intend to remove Xander Orenstein from the bench.”
Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, an elected official can only be removed through impeachment, with the motion introduced in the state House, followed by a trial in the state Senate.
The 48th Legislative District in Washington County covers the city of Washington; Amwell, part of Carroll (Districts 3, 4 and 5), East Finley, Fallowfield, Morris, North Franklin, part of North Strabane (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), Nottingham, Somerset, South Franklin, South Strabane, and West Finley townships; and the boroughs of Donora, East Washington and Green Hills.
Representative Tim O’Neal
48th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
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