Death Penalty

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a State Line, Pa., man accused of killing a woman now identified in court documents as having worked as an informant for a Pennsylvania law enforcement agency. Jeffrey E. Miles Sr., 47, is charged with criminal homicide in the April 3 stabbing death of Kristy Dawn Hoke of Hagerstown. Hoke's body was found in woods in the southern portion of the Borough of Waynesboro a few days later. Miles' arraignment in Franklin County Court is scheduled for 1 p.m. today.

Although she opposes the death penalty, Hagerstown resident Lisa Bennett said Monday she thinks Maryland residents should have a chance to vote on it. “I believe in forgiveness, but some of the crimes that are committed are so heinous that the death penalty is the only way some families can get closure,” said Bennett, 53. “I feel the residents of Maryland have the right to vote on this because it affects our communities and affects our families.”...

The father of Angela Kay Devonshire, a 22-year-old Bunker Hill, W.Va., woman who was slain in June 2010, told West Virginia lawmakers that his visit to the state Capitol complex in Charleston on Tuesday was for justice. "My heart is shattered and broken, and I'm trying to find a way to put it back together," Sidney Devonshire said in a public hearing that was broadcast live from the House chamber via the Internet. Devonshire was among several people who spoke in favor of House Bill 2526, legislation that proposes the reinstatement of the death penalty for first-degree murder cases in West Virginia.

Hagerstown Tea Party supporters gathered at the Beaver Creek Country Club on Thursday night to hear Del. Neil C. Parrott, R-Washington, talk about the recently concluded session of the Maryland General Assembly and a drive to collect petitions to challenge the repeal of the death penalty through a referendum in the 2014 elections. Parrott said at the gathering - a general meeting of the Hagerstown Tea Party attended by about 20 people - that he was extremely disappointed with passage of measures such as the increase in the state gasoline tax and the gun-control bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley on Thursday.

Earlier this month, the Maryland Legislature passed legislation abolishing the death penalty. I believe the time has come to repeal the death penalty because it is racially biased, demonstrably unreliable and not an effective deterrent. This debate is full of practical, legal and moral questions that deserve our full attention. Maryland's justice system is strong. Our law enforcement, victim and witness assistance coordinators, judges, prosecutors and corrections officers work tirelessly to keep our state safe and to ensure justice prevails.

Md. House OKs death penalty restrictions; bill goes to O'Malley ANNAPOLIS -- Del. Andrew A. Serafini offered an amendment to the death penalty bill Thursday that would have allowed those who kill correctional officers to be sentenced to death. The amendment was defeated 75-61, but received the most support of any of the amendments offered Thursday. All five delegates representing Washington County supported the measure. Serafini, R-Washington, said he offered the amendment because without it, there is little to deter an inmate serving a life sentence to continue killing while in prison.

Committee passes death penalty moratorium Annapolis By LAURA ERNDE laurae@herald-mail.com Sen. Alex X. Mooney broke with fellow conservatives and cast the swing committee vote Tuesday to halt executions temporarily in Maryland, but the death penalty moratorium still faces a difficult journey to pass the Maryland General Assembly before the session ends at midnight Monday. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 6-5 to approve a one-year moratorium on executions so the state can finish a study on whether the death penalty is being fairly applied.

A Republican Washington County delegate, with help from Democrats, is mounting a challenge to the repeal of the death penalty, a measure that was signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley earlier this week. Neil C. Parrott, R-Washington, announced the start of a petition drive at a press conference in Baltimore on Friday. With him were Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger, a Democrat, and Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County. “Life is extremely precious ... but, for example, if someone does something like the attack on the Boston marathon, they deserve the death penalty,” Parrott said, noting that the press conference was held not far from the finishing line of the Baltimore Marathon.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- A Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., man reaffirmed his not-guilty plea Wednesday to a charge of criminal homicide in the shooting death of his neighbor. Michael Harrigan, 29, appeared for formal arraignment on the charge in Franklin County (Pa.) Court. Harrigan answered "yes" when asked by Judge Douglas Herman if he wanted to continue with the not-guilty plea entered in writing by his attorneys. Harrigan is charged in the May 27 shooting death of Steven Wetzel, 47, on Blue Ridge Avenue.

Christopher Lynn Johnson, the Fairfield, Pa., man accused of killing Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove, winked at someone Friday morning as he left the Adams County courtroom where he had just been officially notified that the state willseek the death penalty. Assistant Public Defender Kristin L. Rice entered a plea of not guilty on her client’s behalf during his mandatory arraignment before Common Pleas Court Judge Michael A. George. Johnson, 27, is charged with first-degree murder, illegal possession of a firearm and other charges in the Nov. 11, 2010, shooting death of Grove, 31, the first Pennsylvania Game Commission officer killed in the line of duty since 1915.