Not guilty verdict in York homicide case
Ronald Carter, 57, of York, was acquitted of first-degree murder and robbery in the killing of Terry "Pete" Leonard, 66, of York.
Not guilty verdict in York homicide case Ronald Carter, 57, of York, was acquitted of first-degree murder and robbery in the killing of Terry "Pete" Leonard, 66, of York. Check out this story on ydr.com: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/crime/2018/01/05/not-guilty-verdict-trial-man-accused-killing-uncle-york-feed-addiction-crack/987108001/
Dylan Segelbaum, dsegelbaum@ydr.com Published 1:33 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2018 | Updated 5:13 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2018
A deputy coroner from the York County Coroner's office twas called to he 600 block of West King after an adult male was discovered in his room at a boarding house on Friday. York City Police Chief Wes Kahley is currently calling his death suspicious until a cause of death report comes back from the coroner's office.(Photo: Jason Plotkin, York Daily Record)Buy Photo
Ronald Carter looked stunned.
He put his head down. Then, he started to cry, using tissues to wipe back tears at the defense table inside a courtroom at the York County Judicial Center.
"I was praying to God that the truth would come out," Carter told one of his defense attorneys.
Carter, 57, of York, was found not guilty on Friday of first-degree murder and robbery in the death of his uncle, Terry "Pete" Leonard, 66, of York. He was discovered inside his room at a boarding house on West King Street near South West Street on Sept. 2, 2016, with a stab wound to the chest.
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"Obviously, we feel that the jury did exactly what they had to do," said Jonelle Harter Eshbach, Carter's attorney. "It's really unfortunate and tragic that Terry Leonard is dead. But Ronald Carter is not his murderer."
It was her first homicide trial as a defense attorney. Eshbach, who formerly worked as a prosecutor at the York County District Attorney's Office and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, also credited her co-counsel, Tom Kelley.
The jury deliberated for a little more than one hour. Common Pleas Judge Maria Musti Cook presided over the trial.
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During closing arguments, First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Russell brought up the principle of Occam's razor: the simplest explanation is often the correct one.
Russell, who tried the case with Senior Deputy Prosecutor Justin Roberts, called Carter a "desperate crack addict" whose world revolved around the drug.
Carter knew that his uncle received money for disability at the beginning of the month. Carter went to his apartment to return a cellphone — and came back with crack and $100. And Carter told witnesses to lie to the police, Russell said.
"He was ruled by crack," Russell said. "In that moment, he needed to get the drugs. By any means necessary."
She called the killing sad, tragic and disgusting.
Later, Russell said she disagreed with the verdict but respected the jury's decision.
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Terry "Pete" Leonard, 66, of York. (Photo: Submitted)
Kelley quoted Shakespeare's "Macbeth" to describe the prosecution's case: "Full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing."
He argued that their witnesses gave conflicting stories and were not credible. In fact, he said, they had the same motive. Police did not check DNA from the crime scene against the national database, Kelley said.
"Science doesn't lie. Science isn't high on crack," Kelley said. "Science is science."
If the prosecution had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, the verdict must be not guilty, he said.
"These are important cases. My client deserves better. The victim deserves better," Kelley said. "Who killed the victim? Who? We might know if something had been done in this case."
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Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.
See photos of York County's Most Wanted:
Photos: York County Most Wanted list
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Jared A. Billet, 28, 5'9" tall, 145 pounds, wanted for forgery. York County Sheriff's Office
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Alexis Breeland, born 2/12/1986, weight 150 lbs., 5'4" tall. Wanted for resisting arrest, earned income tax law. File Photo
Brandon J. Brewer, 31, 6' tall, 240 pounds. Wanted for forgery. York County Sheriff's Office
George Bright, 34, 5'8" tall, 180 pounds, wanted on drug charges File Photo
Jeffrey Britton, 53, 6' tall, 200 pounds, wanted for conspiracy possession with intent to deliver marijuana York County Sheriff's Office
Rodrecus D. Capers, 31, 5'6" tall, 185 pounds. Wanted for forgery, access device fraud and theft. York County Sheriff's Office
William A. Carter II, 21, 6'3" tall, 170 pounds, wanted for violating parole, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and failure to appear at a preliminary hearing York County Sheriff's Office
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Tindaro Gaetano Catania, born August 15, 1978. Weight 260 lbs., 5'7" tall. Wanted for theft by deception. Adams County Sheriff's Office
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Ervin Colburn, 49, 5'11" tall, 200 pounds, wanted for stalking/DUI York County Sheriff's Office
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Michael Cox Jr., 33, 6'3" tall, 170 pounds, wanted on drug charges York County Sheriff's Office
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Kenneth B. Oatman, 44, 5'9" tall, 160 pounds, wanted for DUI York County Sheriff's Office
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Gregory Opie, born 4/28/1975, weight 195 lbs., 6' tall. Wanted in connection to corruption of minors York County Sheriff's Office
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Erivin O. Perez, 49. 5'7" tall, 170 lbs. Wanted for DUI x 2. York County Sheriff's Office
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Amanda Petro, 27. 5'5" tall, 160 lbs. Wanted for retail theft. York County Sheriff's Office
Tanya L. Pikschus, 34, 5' tall, 165 pounds, wanted for DUI. York County Sheriff's Office
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Adam C. Rasin, 36 years old. 5'-10" tall, 185 pounds. Wanted for retail theft. Photo courtesy of York County Sheriff's Office
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Glenn Shoff, 31, 5'7" tall, 130 pounds, wanted for assault York County Sheriff's Office
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Kimbeerly Swinson, 31, 5'6" inches, 180 pounds, wanted for bad checks York County Sheriff's Office
Lamanda Terry, born 4/23/1972, weight 220 lbs., 5' tall. Wanted in connection to theft York County Sheriff's Office
Richard B. Tyler, 30, 5'11" inches tall, 175 pounds, wanted for possession with intent to distribute. York County Sheriff's Office
Azalea Urbina, 27, 5'3" tall, 215 pounds, wanted for possession with intent to delivery marijuana and conspiracy. York County Sheriff's Office
Carlos E Valdesuso, 54, 5'6" tall, 165 pounds. Wanted for possession with intent to deliver. York County Sheriff's Office
Jamal B. Valentine, born 4/25/1980, weight 215 lbs., 5'7" tall. Wanted for robbery York County Sheriff's Office
James Valentine, 67. 5'8" tall, 165 lbs. Wanted for loitering, prowling. York County Sheriff's Office
Freddy Vaquez: DOB 12/30/70; 5'7", 160 lbs, black hair, brown eyes, wanted for failing to appear in court for possession with intent to deliver marijuana charge. York County Sheriff's Office
Javier Vargas aka Javi, 23, 5'11" tall, 160 pounds, wanted on drug charges York County Sheriff's Office
Tisen K. Washington, 25, 5'9" tall, 150 pounds, wanted for violating probation on possession of a controlled substance and failure to appear on domestic b/w harassment York County Sheriff's Office
Tiara Laura Williford, 25. 5'6" tall, 220 lbs. Wanted for aggravated assault. York County Sheriff's Office
Joseph Wingo, 25, 6' tall, 240 pounds, wanted for drugs File Photo
Timothy L. Wisner, 43. 5'8" tall, 190 lbs. Wanted for defienat trespass. York County Sheriff's Office
Rebecca L. Yaklin, 37, 5'4" tall, 130 pounds, wanted for intent to possess a controlled substance. York County Sheriff's Office
James Lionel Young, 59, 5'11" tall, 210 pounds, possession with intent to deliver. York County Sheriff's Office
Kenneth L. Zumbrum, DOB 11/23/72, 5'10", 220 pounds, wanted for DUI York County Sheriff's Office
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