Sentencing has been set for Feb. 22 for Paul Morrisroe, convicted last week by a Venango County jury for the hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of Dakota Heinaman in 2015.
According to the online court docket, Morrisroe, 40, of Sunny Lane, Marshburg, will face sentencing before President Judge John Pavlock in McKean County Court in Smethport at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 22.
Pavlock ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed prior to sentencing.
Following his conviction Thursday on charges including homicide by motor vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, Morrisroe’s bail was raised from $250,000 to $400,000 monetary bail by Pavlock.
As of Monday afternoon, Morrisroe remained incarcerated in McKean County Jail in Smethport, unable to post bail.
On June 2, 2015, a motorcycle operated by Heinaman, 20, on Route 646 in Cyclone, had slowed to make a left turn into his driveway. A truck driven by Morrisroe was unable to stop in time, and swerved left to try to avoid the crash, according to testimony at trial.
Instead, the passenger side front of the truck struck the rear of Heinaman’s motorcycle before leaving the scene. The passenger side front tire of the truck was flattened in the crash, and police were able to follow gouge marks from the scene of the crash about 15 miles to Morrisroe’s garage door, testimony indicated.
Police alleged Morrisroe was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana at the time of the crash. The jury agreed.
The defense at trial, made up of lead counsel Robert Kinnear and attorneys Daniel Lang and James P. Miller, had alleged that another person had been driving the truck at the time of the crash — Charlie Bailey, the man who police said was a passenger in the truck.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg Shaffer and assistant DA Mike Alfieri prosecuted the case.
The trial was held in Venango County to changes of venue and venire approved by Pavlock when a jury could not be seated in McKean County in May, as too many people were familiar with the case.
