Paul Morrisroe, currently serving a sentence of 7.5 to 15 years in state prison on convictions including homicide by motor vehicle while DUI, has had his petition to hear appeal denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
McKean County District Attorney Stephanie L. Vettenburg-Shaffer said Friday that an order, dated Aug. 23, reported the Pennsylvania Supreme Court had denied Morrisroe’s request to hear his appeal.
Stated grounds for seeking another appeal were not reported. Previously, Morrisroe had appealed his conviction to Pennsylvania Superior Court and, last December, the Superior Court upheld his conviction.
At that time, the appeal alleged that McKean County President Judge John Pavlock should have recused himself from the case, and that Senior Judge William Morgan erred by failing to suppress evidence in the trial.
The criminal trial in the case had been moved to the Venango County Courthouse due to the publicity surrounding the case in McKean County. Venango County residents made up the jury.
On Jan. 26, 2017, after a nearly two week trial, Morrisroe was convicted of homicide by vehicle; homicide by vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance; accidents involving death or personal injury; accidents involving damage to attended vehicle/property; four counts of driving under the influence (alcohol and/or controlled substance); and several summary offenses for a crash that claimed the life of McKean County man Dakota Heinaman.
That crash occurred on June 2, 2015. The case was prosecuted by Shaffer and First Assistant District Attorney Michael Alfieri.
On Feb. 22, 2017, Morrisroe was sentenced to 7½ years to 15 years. He has been incarcerated by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
Shaffer stated in her release that she “reiterates her gratitude to the Venango County residents who heard the case, the witnesses who travelled from McKean County to testify, and the exemplary work of the Pennsylvania State Police and Smethport Borough Police.”
