Ashburn resident Ryan Diviney and his family will have to wait four more months for the men accused of beating him to be brought to trial.

Ryan Diviney

On March 8, attorneys for Austin Vantrease and Jonathon May, both 18, of Newark, Del., succeeded in getting their malicious assault trials moved from March 16 to July 16.

Vantrease’s attorney also said he will likely ask for a change of venue for the trial, set to take place in Monongalia County Circuit Court in Morgantown, W.Va.

Vantrease and May are accused of being in a group of five to seven people who argued and fought with Diviney, 20, and two of his friends Nov. 7 in a convenience store parking lot near West Virginia University.

The investigation by Morgantown Police found that Diviney was punched and kicked in the head, leaving him in a coma with brain damage. Prior to the attack, the men allegedly argued over the World Series.

After spending months in hospitals in Morgantown and Atlanta, Diviney is at his home in Ashburn recovering.

He is in a state of minimal consciousness, close to a coma.

As the Diviney family awaits the trial of Ryan’s attackers, the Ashburn community continues to offer support.

The Dulles Little League, where Diviney once played, hosted a casino night event March 6 to raise money to help with Diviney’s medical bills.

Other residents are writing letters to the prosecutor in the case about what Diviney means to the community and how his being in a coma has affected them.

Their hope is that the letters will make it into evidence of the trials of Vantrease and May.

Diviney’s parents, Ken and Sue Diviney, regularly post updates about their son on a Facebook page titled “Come Together for Ryan Diviney.” The updates are also posted at http://www.ryansrally.org.

In a March 7 post, Sue Diviney said she was able to attend part of the casino night event.

“I wish I could have spoken and thanked each and every one of you, but was so overwhelmed by the support that I couldn’t get around before my emotions started to take over and I had to leave,” she wrote.

“We truly have the BEST friends and community! You really help us to face each day with new hope.”

To write on Ryan Diviney’s behalf, send letters to:

Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Monongalia County Courthouse

243 High St. #323

Morgantown, WV 26505