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LOCK HAVEN -- After nearly a year of inactivity, a potential trial date is set for Brian St. John III, of Lock Haven.
St. John has been in the Clinton County Correctional Facility since February 2021 after the shooting death of Jakob L. Haines, 21, of Beech Creek. St. John was charged with criminal homicide and waived his preliminary hearing after numerous continuances and rescheduling on June 24, 2021.
According to the Clinton County Courts, jury selection for St. John's trial is expected to take place on May 12. The trial itself is slated for June 27 to July 1.
This week, St. John's legal council saw a change. Previously, the defendant was represented by local defense attorney David Lindsey.
According to documents filed through Clinton County Court of Common Pleas, Williamsport based attorney George E. Lepley, Jr., of Lepley, Engelman, Yaw & Wilk, LLC, will represent St. John at trial. Bellefonte based Attorney Brian Manchester, of Manchester & Associates, will serve as co-counsel.
St. John has been held without bail in the Clinton County Correctional Facility since the fatal shooting that took place on Feb. 26, 2021, which occurred during a gathering at the St. John home, 330 Brewery Hollow Road in Woodward Township.
During an interview with police, St. John admitted he was holding the Taurus Judge revolver and fired the shot that killed Haines, saying that they "were messing around with the gun when it went off," according to the arrest affidavit.
Haines suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the center of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene by Clinton County Coroner Zach Hanna. Hanna said the cause of death was "a close contact gunshot wound to the chest" and the manner of death was homicide.