The upcoming trial for Paul Morrisroe in Venango County will mean some scheduling changes at the McKean County Courthouse.
Normally, Jan. 19 would be a plea day, and Jan. 26 would be a sentencing day. However, those dates are being rescheduled, according to Court Administrator Joanne Bly.
“We don’t have any visiting judges available to cover the plea day for the 19th,” she explained. She has not scheduled any sentencing hearings for Jan. 26, knowing President Judge John Pavlock would be in Franklin hearing the Morrisroe case.
Morrisroe, 40, of Marshburg, is facing charges including homicide by motor vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana for a fatal-hit-and-run crash June 2, 2015, on Route 646 in Cyclone. A truck, allegedly driven by Morrisroe, struck a motorcycle operated by Dakota Heinaman, 20, then left the scene. Heinaman was killed in the crash.
Bly explained Judge Christopher Hauser will be on the bench in McKean County for both weeks, continuing to hear civil and juvenile delinquency matters.
And criminal trials are scheduled for Jan. 23 and 24. Both will go forward, as Senior Judge John Cleland will preside over one, and Visiting Judge William Morgan will preside over the other, Bly explained.
Staff from the District Attorney’s office will make the trip to Franklin, as will Pavlock and his law clerk. Bly will attend the first few days of the proceedings, during jury selection, but will return to McKean County after that.
“We aren’t taking anybody from the sheriff’s department. The defendant is not incarcerated, so there’s no need there,” Bly explained. “We are relying on whatever their procedures are there in Venango County” for tip staff and courtroom security. An outside court reporter will be brought in to make an official record of the trial as well.
Jury selection is being handled through Venango County as well, with 175 potential jurors being summoned.
Bly said the trial is scheduled to commence on Jan. 17, and “we have set aside through the 27th, but I don’t think it will take that long.”
Morrisroe is represented by attorney Robert Kinnear of Warren, while the case will be prosecuted by McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer.
