Attempted homicide trial postponed
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A local man’s attempted homicide case was scheduled for a jury trial Monday, but the defendant requested a postponement to contact witnesses who he said will provide him with an alibi for the Dec. 29 stabbing at Lincoln Terrace, Washington.
Tracy Negely-Medlen, 21, of Roosevelt Street, North Franklin Township, also is charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Negley-Medlen reportedly entered a residence uninvited and got into an argument with Brandon Sarasnik. He allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and chased Sarasnik and Shelissa Chandler, 30, of 340 1/2 East Prospect Ave., Washington, out of the home. While they were outside, the stabbing occurred, police said.
Negley-Medlen and Chandler left in her vehicle, despite Sarasnik’s pleas for help after Negley-Medlen reportedly forced the victim away from the vehicle, police said
Chandler denied giving a ride to Negley-Medlen, who initially was identified as Trey Pound. She was later charged with hindering apprehension of a suspect.
Sarasnik submitted to the court claims for $174,000 in medical bills and $6,000 in lost wages. Police reported that Sarasnik suffered a punctured lung and heavy loss of blood. He was taken to Washington Hospital and then a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of a collapsed lung.
Both the defendant and Sarasnik were in court Monday when Judge John DiSalle granted Negely-Medlen’s request for a postponement, scheduling the trial for September.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Fagella said witnesses have been intimidated to keep them from testifying. Negely-Medlen, who has not been charged with that crime, denied that he was responsible, telling the judge he is an inmate in the special housing unit at the county jail, where he has no telephone privileges.
His public defender, Charles Carpinelli, said he hoped the defense’s attempts to seek statements for use in Negely-Medlen’s case were not misconstrued.
Fagella also said Negely-Medlen’s case may be tried with Chandler’s.
The stabbing occurred when Negely-Medlen was on parole. In that case, he had pleaded no contest to robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in jail, followed by five years of state probation.