Christy to face trial in Carbon

A McAdoo man, who eluded police for over three months after he allegedly threatened the life of President Donald Trump and others, was in Carbon County court on Tuesday for a pretrial conference on three pending cases.

Shawn Richard Christy, 27, represented himself before Judge Joseph J. Matika for hearings on his various petitions and for a pretrial conference.

However, the entire proceeding lasted only about 17 minutes as Christy withdrew all of his petitions, which included requests for bail reductions in the three pending criminal cases against him and motions to dismiss some of the charges.

Christy told Matika, “I just want my trial date.”

Matika said Christy is scheduled to go on trial during the June term of criminal court. Jury selection is scheduled for June 3.

Christy did receive some news concerning the three pending cases. Assistant District Attorney Joseph D. Perilli, who is prosecuting the matters, said the commonwealth was withdrawing one case because it has been decided the matter will be prosecuted in federal court.

In the remaining two cases, Christy is facing charges of two counts of burglary and criminal trespass and one count of theft. Those charges resulted from allegations that Christy broke into Haulmark Industries on Sept. 13, 2018, and stole several items.

In the second case he faces charges of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal attempt and criminal mischief. Those charges stem from an incident on Aug. 23, 2018, in which Christy is believed to have broken into a Packer Township building.

The case that was dropped was for an incident on July 7, 2018, when police allege Christy stole a truck from his former employers, Hazleton Oil and Environmental Inc. when he was on the run from authorities.

All three criminal cases were filed by state police at Hazleton.

Different demeanor

Christy’s demeanor at the court session was very different from prior appearances in court when he argued with the presiding judges and made allegations against several people of a conspiracy against him. Tuesday he told Matika he wanted to withdraw all his petitions, but keep his right to file them at a later date. He also said he was satisfied that Perilli gave him all the discovery relative to the three cases that are pending.

Christy told Matika he was due in Schuylkill County court next month for trial on pending charges and is facing counts in Luzerne County in addition to federal charges.

Christy, who said he will represent himself at the trial, agreed to have Matika appoint a “stand by” counsel for him at the pending trial. That will be Allentown lawyer, Andrew Theyken Bench, who was with Christy at a preliminary hearing last year before District Judge Joseph Homanko, of Weatherly, on the three pending cases.

At that hearing, Christy accused Homanko of being involved in a conspiracy against him, and displayed a photo of a federal marshal, Rochelle Liedike, of Anchorage, Alaska.

Christy hounded former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2010, sending threatening phone calls and emails. Palin brought a protection-from-abuse order against him.

Christy and his parents, Craig and Karen Christy of McAdoo, frequently refer to ongoing conspiracies against Shawn Christy by a number of people ranging from Palin to Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake to McAdoo Mayor Stephan Holly and patrolman Frederick Lahovski.

Christy ran after skipping a jury selection in Schuylkill County court on May 30, 2018, then threatening to shoot Trump, Northampton District Attorney John Morganelli and any law enforcement officers who tried to catch him.

The chase involved federal, state and local authorities.

After running through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and New York, stealing cars and weapons, and breaking into homes and businesses, Christy was captured on Sept. 21, 2018, hiding in a ravine near Mansfield, Ohio.

Despite substantial media attention at prior court appearances for Christy, courtroom 2 had only two spectators Tuesday. One was a woman, who Christy said was a “loving friend,” and an unidentified man, who was present just to observe the proceeding.