A man from New Florence, Pennsylvania, who is accused of assaulting police officers while they attempted to arrest him two years ago, is now claiming that his speedy trial rights have been violated. Ray A. Shetler Jr., 38, has been in jail since December 2021 on charges of aggravated assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest. He is alleging that Westmoreland County prosecutors failed to adhere to his right to a speedy trial.
The incident in question took place at a mobile home in Seward, where members of the Pennsylvania State Police and county sheriff’s office were trying to arrest Shetler on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court for a probation revocation hearing. It is important to note that Shetler had been previously convicted of theft in 2018, which was related to the fatal shooting of St. Clair Township Police officer Lloyd Reed. However, Shetler was acquitted of murder charges related to the officer’s death.
According to prosecutors, Shetler violated the terms of his probation and failed to appear for a court hearing in 2021, leading to his arrest. They further claim that during the arrest, Shetler hid beneath a folded futon covered with blankets, fought with officers, and headbutted a sheriff’s deputy, causing injuries that required hospital treatment. Shetler himself was injured after being shot in the eye with a Taser.
Shetler’s defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Michael Garofalo, argues that prosecutors did not bring his client to trial within the timeframe mandated by the state’s speedy trial law. The law stipulates that criminal defendants who are in jail must be brought to trial within six months, although this period can be extended due to defense-requested delays.
Despite Shetler’s claims of a violation of his speedy trial rights, his trial is currently scheduled to begin on October 2. A pretrial hearing is set to take place on Monday before Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio.
In conclusion, Ray A. Shetler Jr. is seeking to have criminal charges against him dismissed due to an alleged violation of his speedy trial rights. However, prosecutors maintain that they adhered to the necessary procedures and timeline. The outcome of the case will likely be determined during the upcoming trial, where both sides will have the opportunity to present their arguments and evidence.
