Judge allows Christy to represent himself

If Shawn Christy’s trial in U.S. Middle District Court in Scranton goes off as scheduled in November, the 27-year-old McAdoo man who led authorities on a nearly three-month multistate manhunt last summer will be representing himself.

U.S. District Judge Robert Mariani granted Christy’s request to act as his own legal counsel following a closed-door hearing on Tuesday.

“Christy was knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waiving the right to counsel and understood the ramifications and consequences of proceeding pro se,” Mariani said in his court order.

Despite Christy’s intentions to act as his own lawyer, Mariani appointed standby counsel, attorney David Cherundolo, to assist in all matters in the case. Christy had been represented by federal public defenders Elliot Smith and Heidi Freese before Tuesday’s decision.

Christy went on the run after skipping a jury selection in Schuylkill County court on May 30, 2018, then threatening to shoot President Donald 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.

Locally, Christy faces a multitude of charges including an aggravated assault involving then-McAdoo Mayor Stephan Holly on March 15, 2017.

Federal charges against him include three counts threats against the president of the United States, interstate communications — threats to law enforcement officers, two counts transmitting threatening communications, interstate communications — threats to injure another person, two counts interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, two counts interstate transportation of a stolen firearm, interstate transportation of a firearm while under an information for a felony offense, transport firearm interstate by a felon, two counts fugitive in possession of a firearm, and two counts felon in possession of a firearm.

Mariani scheduled jury selection for the federal trial to begin Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m. in the William J. Nealon Federal Building in Scranton. All pretrial motions, he added, must he filed by Oct. 4.