FRANKLIN — Guilty.
With each of the eight times the word was read, the family of Dakota Heinaman absorbed it like a weight was lifted off their shoulders.
A jury of seven men and five women on Thursday went out at 10:43 a.m. to begin deliberations into the fate of Paul D. Morrisroe, 40, of Marshburg, charged with homicide by motor vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana for the hit-and-run crash in 2015 which claimed the life of Heinaman.
At 5:47 p.m., the jury had reached a verdict.
Polly Dehner, Heinaman’s grandmother, kept her head down, clutching her grandson’s bible while praying.
Before the jurors returned to the courtroom, McKean County President Judge John Pavlock addressed all those in attendance, warning them to behave appropriately. He said he knew people were emotional, and added, “I haven’t been in your shoes.” However, he added, “In this courtroom we have to have order. Although I can certainly appreciate that this is extremely difficult, if there are outbursts the deputies know to take people immediately into custody and they may be held in contempt of court. Whatever the verdict is there can be no outbursts.”
The jury filed back in, faces somber and drawn. The verdict slip was given to the judge, then back to the jury foreman to read.
He began with count four, driving under the influence of marijuana. “Guilty.” He read through all four DUI-related charges before turning to the rest. Homicide by motor vehicle while DUI — “guilty.” Accidents involving death, hit and run — “guilty.” Homicide by motor vehicle — “guilty.”
Morrisroe stood between his attorneys Robert Kinnear and James P. Miller, looking solemn but displaying no outward reaction; that came later.
A few of the jurors were visibly emotional, one wiping her eyes repeatedly as she watched Heinaman’s family quietly weep.
After the jury was released, Pavlock addressed several traffic summary offenses with which Morrisroe had been charged. He found him not guilty of speeding and of driving in the wrong lane, but guilty of the remainder, such as reckless driving, failing to stop and render aid and failing to notify police of an accident.
McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer then addressed the judge, asking him to modify or revoke Morrisroe’s $250,000 bail.
“We ask that he be incarcerated pending sentence,” she said, calling Morrisroe a “flight risk.”
She referred to the crime for which he had been convicted, saying he fled the scene when a man was killed in a crash he caused. Too, she said, he is facing the possibility of seven years or more in state prison.
Miller objected, pointing out that Morrisroe has showed up at every court appearance in this case. “There’s no reason for his bail to be modified,” the attorney said.
Pavlock, however, increased the bail to $400,000. Miller immediately noted an exception. Pavlock indicated that was his ruling, but Miller continued to argue. “Are you going to keep talking?” the judge asked, as he was rising to leave the court. As Miller was still speaking, Pavlock adjourned the proceeding and returned to his chambers.
Heinaman’s family was led from the courtroom by Lori Masters, victim witness coordinator with Shaffer’s office. Two deputies with the McKean County Sheriff’s Department were present, and took Morrisroe into custody. They allowed him a few moments with his girlfriend, Beth Esch.
The two embraced in the courtroom, holding each other and crying quietly. She was led from the courtroom and the deputies frisked Morrisroe before putting him in handcuffs and shackles to lead him outside to the waiting patrol car, to be returned to McKean County Jail in Smethport.
The defense attorneys had previously indicated should Morrisroe be convicted, an appeal would be forthcoming.
Dawn James, Heinaman’s mother, told The Era after the proceedings, “We’re glad that justice was finally served and want to thank everyone who worked on the case — Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer and all the police and experts.”
Shaffer submitted a written comment to The Era.
“The Commonwealth would like to thank the jury for its time and the attention the jurors paid to the proceedings as well as the county of Venango. The events of June 2, 2015, have been much discussed by nearly everyone in McKean County. For the family of Dakota Lee Heinaman, I hope the conclusion of the trial will bring them a sense of peace. Excellent police work and the willingness of witnesses to come forward resulted in the guilty verdict.”
No sentencing date was set as of Thursday night.
