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Half-brother of convicted murderer sent to state prison for involvement

The half-brother of a convicted murderer sentenced to life in prison in April will spend nearly the next two years in state prison for his involvement.

Gary Ralph Williams, 24, North Cambria, Pa., pled guilty earlier this month to receiving stolen property and reckless burning or exploding.

Williams’ half-brother — James Anthony McDaniel — pled guilty and was sentenced on a count of first degree murder for the 2016 killing of 18-year-old Marcus Mattson.

He was sentenced Friday by President Judge Maureen Skerda.

Police have said Williams alleged involvement in the case originated when they found that he had rims on his vehicle that had apparently been taken from the vehicle Mattson had last been seen driving.

According to court documents, McDaniel “implicated (Williams) in the arson of the vehicle” Mattson was last seen driving before his death.

Police said McDaniel told them Williams helped him in attempts to dispose of the body.

According to Police, Williams denied any involvement beyond receiving and using the rims. “Williams stated he had received the wheels/rims from the gold Ford Explorer, but he was not involved in the arson of the truck or the disappearance of Marcus Mattson.”

Williams was released from Warren County jail on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 after his bail was changed from $200,000 secured to $200,000 unsecured.

Greene said at the time of the plea that Williams had agreed to testify against McDaniel at trial and would continue to do so if McDaniel’s case were to go to trial as part of an appeal process.

William’s attorney, Bernard Hessley, said that this case is an example of Williams being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“And doing the wrong thing,” Skerda said.

Hessley posited that Williams was afraid of his brother and “terrified of the situation.”

He added that the plea was initially offered in March 2016 and that Williams has been employed, calling it a “shame that he would be facing jail time. It would be a set back to him.”

District Attorney Rob Greene simply said that the Commonwealth was asking for a standard range sentence and restitution.

“I’m sorry this tragedy occurred,” Williams told the court. “I made a stupid mistake.”

“What you did was wrong,” Skerda reiterated. While she acknowledged that he did not commit the more serious crimes involved in this case, she said that Williams “committed crimes that compromised the investigation.”

Skerda sentenced Williams to 16 to 48 months in state prison on a count of reckless burning or exploding, in addition to $6,286.24 in restitution, $2,125 in fines and fees and submission of a DNA sample. He was given credit for 20 days time served. On a count of receiving stolen property, he was sentenced to an additional consecutive four to 12 months in state prison, making the aggregate sentence 20 months to 60 months.

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