CBS Philly: Hatboro Man Sentenced for Killing Rival with Baseball Bat

A 51-year-old borough man will spend a minimum of 4¼ years in jail after admitting he used a baseball bat to beat another man to death last year during a jealous rage over an ex-girlfriend, according to CBS Philly.

Thomas Bellezza's sentencing of 51 months to 12 years in jail Friday resulted from a Feb. 9, 2010 physical altercation with Robert "Rusty" Masten, 53, of Horsham which led to his death two days later.

The two men were arguing over a woman. Bellezza pleaded guilty in December to charges stemming from beating Masten to death with a baseball bat, according to CBS Philly.

A press release issued by the Montgomery County District Attorney's office following Masten's death last year, contends that prosecutors had originally sought third degree murder and voluntary manslaughter charges for Bellezza. 

According to the press release, Horsham Police had been dispatched to an assault in progress in front of a residence in the 100 block of MacIntosh Court. Upon arriving, officers found Masten lying on the ground bleeding from his head. A baseball bat was on the ground nearby. 

Officers made contact with Bellezza, who had blood on his clothes. Bellezza told an officer that he took the bat from Masten and hit him. He also acknowledged that the fight was over a woman. 

Masten died on Feb. 11, 2010 and an autopsy concluded that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, according to the release.