Hanlan siblings in legal limbo with no defense attorneys
Waylon Hanlan is escorted to his appearance before Senior District Judge Jesse Cramer in Waynesburg Wednesday afternoon.
Clinton Hanlan arrives for an appearance before Senior District Judge Jesse Cramer in Waynesburg Wednesday afternoon.
Vanessa Hanlan is escorted to her appearance Wednesday afternoon before Senior District Judge Jesse Cramer in Waynesburg.
WAYNESBURG – Waylon Hanlan, who escaped from Greene County jail in December, asked a district judge Wednesday if he could plead guilty immediately in exchange for all charges to be dropped against his siblings for allegedly aiding him.
Hanlan’s preliminary hearing before Senior District Judge Jesse Cramer was continued for the third time, however, since the Greene County Court has yet to assign Hanlan a public defender.
“Can I get a plea today so they’ll drop charges for my brothers and sister?” Hanlan said before his 1 p.m. hearing was to start. “Let’s do this.”
Cramer said Hanlan should discuss any plea deal with prosecutors, and then set his bail at $50,000 and continued the hearing to a later date.
Greene County First Assistant District Attorney Brianna Vanata said it was too early to discuss a plea bargain.
“There’s no arrangement in place,” Vanata said.
Hanlan, 27, of Dunkard Township, faces charges of conspiracy and escape after investigators said he cut a hole in the vinyl wall of a minimum-security area of Greene County jail and climbed a perimeter fence Dec. 27. He was free for two days before state police arrested him in Dunkard Township. State police added charges of theft of a vehicle and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing a utility-task vehicle following the escape.
Hanlan’s two brothers and one sister are charged with helping him following his escape. Clinton Hanlan, 21, had his preliminary hearing before Cramer and waived charges of receiving stolen property and hindering apprehension to court. The prosecution agreed to reduce the hindering apprehension charge from a felony to a misdemeanor, while Cramer changed his bond to $7,500 unsecured.
Since public defender Harry Cancelmi is representing Clinton Hanlan, his office could not take Waylon Hanlan’s case. A “conflict counsel” – a lawyer not connected to the case – must be assigned, but it was not known if one had been requested by the public defender’s office.
Vanessa Hanlan, 23, of Dunkard Township, who is charged with felony counts of hindering apprehension, providing aid and conspiracy to commit escape, also is in legal limbo while she waits for her “conflict counsel” attorney to be assigned. Her preliminary hearing before Cramer was also continued and she remains jailed on $25,000 bond.
She and Waylon Hanlan were returned to Washington County jail where they’ve been held since their arrests. Clinton Hanlan was taken back to Greene County jail while he awaits his sentencing after pleading guilty last week to receiving stolen property in an unrelated case.
Shane Hanlan, 29, the other brother implicated in the escape conspiracy, is being held at Greene County jail without bail and has yet to be arraigned on felony charges of escape, hindering apprehension and flight to avoid punishment. U.S. marshals arrested him Jan. 7 after he had been on the run from authorities since May when he failed to show for sentencing for a prior conviction of receiving stolen property.