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October 17, 2012

Guilty plea canceled because of tardy lawyer

By Keith Gushard Meadville Tribune

MEADVILLE — A planned guilty plea by one of four young men charged with killing a Conneautville man last year was canceled in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday when the man’s defense lawyer didn’t appear on time.

Alan J. Watkins, 20, of 14354 Lexington St., Harmonsburg, was scheduled to enter a plea in county court at 2:30 p.m. in connection with the shooting death of Ronald Shreffler.

However, President Judge Anthony Vardaro canceled the court session after  Watkins’ defense attorney, John Foster of Pittsburgh, didn’t appear at the appointed time for the plea.

Foster told a reporter he had contacted court officials he was running late. Foster arrived at the courthouse in Meadville at about 2:40 p.m., but the hearing already had been canceled.

No new date for Watkins’ plea has been set as yet by the county court adminstrator’s office.

Watkins is one of four people charged by Pennsylvania State Police with the Aug. 30, 2011, shooting death of Ronald Shreffler, 46, during a robbery attempt at Shreffler’s Summerhill Township home on Abbot Road.

Police accuse Brandon Todd Tracy, 19, of Titusville, Watkins, 20, of Harmonsburg and brothers Austin Lee Taylor, 19, and Dakota L. Taylor, 17, both of 14336 Lexington St., Harmonsburg, of plotting to rob Shreffler of a large amount of marijuana and cash, neither of which was found inside the home.

Tracy allegedly contacted state police Sept. 20, 2011, and police said he admitted to shooting Shreffler, but Tracy also alleged to police that Austin Taylor was pointing a gun at Tracy’s head during the incident. Tracy has claimed to police he was forced to take part in the plan and shoot Shreffler or be killed himself, according to police.

Tracy was scheduled to go on trial this week in county court, but on Friday he pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit burglary before Vardaro. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19; the prosecution and defense have asked for a cumulative sentence of 25 to 50 years.

On Oct. 3, Austin Taylor, who was expected to take the witness stand at Tracy’s trial, pleaded guilty before Vardaro to one count of third-degree murder in connection with the case. Austin Taylor faces a sentence of 20 to 40 years for his involvement in the death when he is sentenced Nov. 19.

Dakota Taylor is expected to enter a plea in the case through Crawford County Juvenile Court.

All four men remain in the Crawford County jail in Saegertown in lieu of bond.



Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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