Man gets new attorney in attempted homicide trial

Francis Scarcella, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

May 21—SUNBURY — A Northumberland County conflicts attorney will represent a 33-year-old Shamokin man in an attempted homicide trial after a judge denied a request for recusal Tuesday.

Attorney Cory Leshner filed a motion to recuse but said he had no problem representing Akeem Tyree Gregory, who is accused of shooting a man and then barricading himself in a Mount Carmel home for six hours in February 2020. Judge Hugh Jones denied the motion.

Leshner told Jones he may have a potential conflict after he represented an individual who could testify against Gregory at trial.

Leshner said he was unsure of the conflict because he had no idea what the alleged witness would say. Jones said it was premature to recuse and denied the motion.

Gregory was charged by Shamokin police with shooting a victim at least four times on Feb. 22, 2020, over an altercation involving $160 in marijuana. Shamokin police discovered Gregory was inside a Mount Carmel home and arrived in an attempt to speak with him but Gregory refused to exit the South Maple Street property, police said.

After nearly six hours, police fired tear gas into the home and Gregory said he was asleep and didn't even know police were there until the window shot out, according to court documents.

Gregory's prior attorney Jim Best, of Sunbury, had a plea deal in place prior to District Attorney Mike O'Donnell taking office in January, and it was for Gregory to plea to a felony burglary and a simple assault charge.

At the January hearing, Jones questioned the deal and asked to speak with Best and Assistant District Attorney Michael Seward in chambers before returning to the courtroom and listening to Gregory speak.

Gregory said he was not happy with the plea agreement and cited court cases about being incarcerated and being able to get credit for time served if he agreed to the plea.

Best was then removed from the case and Leshner was appointed after Gregory requested a new attorney. O'Donnell, at the time, said there would not be any other plea deals.

Gregory is charged with attempted criminal homicide, two felony counts of aggravated assault, a felony count of burglary, a felony count of criminal trespass, a felony count of illegally possessing a firearm and a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person, according to police.