Teen pleads guilty for role in murder of homeless man.
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Teen pleads guilty for role in murder of homeless man.
Schwartz to serve between eight and 22 years in prison
by JOSEPH DEINLEIN
http://ydr.com/story/main/88889/
Jason Lamar Schwartz’s hair was buzz-cut short
as he stood in Adams County Courtroom No. 2.
The New Oxford teenager wore glasses and an
orange prison jumpsuit. His wrists were cuffed
and shackled to a leather belt around his waist.
His parents were in the back of the courtroom...
Schwartz, 18, was mostly silent during the hearing,
at which he pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy
to commit robbery for his part in the beating death
of Thomas Hardy more than a year ago in Oxford
Township.
He answered questions from Adams County Judge
Michael George with short sentences. “I’m sorry,” he
said when George asked if he had anything to say.
George replied: “Perhaps that apology should be
directed elsewhere.”
Schwartz, the last of a trio of young men involved in the crime to go to court, was
sentenced to five to 12 years in prison for the robbery charge and three to 10 years
on the conspiracy charge. The charges are consecutive, meaning Schwartz will serve a
minimum of eight years and a maximum of 22.
Initially, Schwartz also faced charges of second- and third-degree murder, but they
were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
“Jason decided in the long run, this was going to be acceptable,” said his lawyer,
Roy Keefer.
District Attorney Shawn Wagner said the deal was acceptable to Hardy’s family
members, several of whom were in the courtroom Friday.
“I think this sentence reflected his involvement,” Wagner said after the hearing. “He
did not intend to cause Mr. Hardy’s death and his actions didn’t lead to Mr. Hardy’s
death.”
The charges to which Schwartz pleaded were the same as his co-defendant Michael
Glacken, 18, of Littlestown. But Glacken was sentenced to half the time in prison —
four to 10 years.
Wagner noted that Glacken did not take part in Hardy’s beating, but Schwartz admitted
to hitting and kicking Hardy in the chest.
Wagner also said Schwartz was willing, without a plea deal of his own worked out, to
testify against the third co-defendant, Dustin Moser, 19, of Oxford Township. Moser
pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and last month was sentenced to life in prison
without parole.
Hardy, 48, was killed in a wooded area off Route 30 after a dispute with Schwartz
over $5. Glacken had given Hardy $5 for beer before he and Schwartz left the campsite
and later met up with Moser. The trio returned to the campsite intent upon getting
the money back, according to court records.
At Friday’s hearing, Wagner said Schwartz helped drag a sleeping Hardy from his tent.
Wagner said Schwartz and Glacken told Moser to stop beating Hardy over the head with
a fallen tree branch for fear of killing him. Also, Schwartz went through Hardy’s
back pocket, but did not take anything, Wagner said.
Wagner also said Schwartz, in a taped telephone conversation with Glacken the day
after Hardy died, said he was going to turn himself in for his part in the crime.
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I intend to last long enough to put out of business all COck-suckers
and other beneficiaries of the institutionalized slavery and genocide.
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Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or
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does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It
undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts
sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it
helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it
reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~
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