×

Murder trial could be set soon

The murder case against James A. McDaniel is taking steps forward.

A status conference in the case was held on Friday, Jan. 13.

McDaniel, 26, of Russell, was charged with criminal homicide in the February, 2016, death of Marcus A. Mattson, of Russell.

The initial charges also included reckless burning or exploding; conspiracy– reckless burning or exploding; theft by unlawful taking; abuse of a corpse; and tamper with or fabricate physical evidence.

In July, District Attorney Rob Greene announced his intention to seek the death penalty in the case.

McDaniel’s court-appointed attorneys, John Ingros and Fred Hummel, asked that the case be sealed. Otherwise, they said, their expenditures, when billed to the county, could be seen by the prosecution and the press. That could result in potentially contaminating the jury pool.

Making the defense expenditures public would deny McDaniel “effective assistance of counsel,” Ingros and Hummel argued. They said that the “unique severity and irrevocable nature of the death penalty” require “stricter procedural safeguards” than non-capital cases.

The motion to seal was granted in August.

Court Administrator Linda Critzer confirmed Wednesday that the scheduled status conference was held. Details of what happened in it were not released.

The conference involved the attorneys and the judge. It was not held in open court and would not have been even if the case was not sealed.

According to Pennsylvania Code, a status conference can be held to “review the case status and expedite the litigation.”

“Status conferences are designed for complex cases to ensure that everything is going on schedule so that they are not more complex,” Warren County Public Defender John Parroccini, who is not involved in the McDaniel case and was not commenting specifically on it, said.

Critzer said a calendar call is set for Monday. At calendar call, dates are set for trials for the upcoming term.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today