After abrupt departure of Mary Kolessar, SHINE afterschool program looks for third director

Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick to honor past president

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Prosecutors on Wednesday challenged claims made by Holly Ann Crawford in an appeal of her December murder conviction.</p><p>Crawford&#8217;s attorney last week <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/505406/convicted-murderer-holly-crawford-seeks-new-trial" target="_blank">filed an appeal</a> that argued Luzerne County Judge Fred A. Pierantoni III erred in issuing multiple directives to the jury and failed to suppress a statement made to police while Crawford was either withdrawing from or under the influence of drugs.</p><p>Prosecutors countered Crawford&#8217;s claims by arguing that appellate courts consider the matter of denial of jury instruction as &#8220;one of deference, in that an appellate court will reverse a trial court&#8217;s decision to deny a jury instruction only when the trial court abused its discretion or committed an error of law,&#8221; as Assistant District Attorney Gregory S. Skibitsky Jr. wrote.</p><p>Crawford, 41, of Sweet Valley, was <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/497406/holly-ann-crawford-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-fatal-shootings-of-ronald-and-jeffrey-evans" target="_blank">sentenced in December</a> to two consecutive life sentences and two additional 40 to 80 year sentences after a jury found her guilty for her role in the 2014 shootings of Ronald &#8220;Barney&#8221; Evans, 73, and his 43-year-old son, Jeffrey Evans.</p><p>Crawford&#8217;s boyfriend, 33-year-old James Roche, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/501986/james-roche-gets-two-life-sentences-for-hunlock-creek-killings" target="_blank">received an identical sentence </a>on Jan. 8.</p><p>Prosecutors said Crawford, who had a previous sexual relationship with Ronald Evans in exchange for cash and gifts, encouraged Roche to kill the father and son at the elder Evans&#8217; home in Hunlock Creek in an alcohol-induced murder plot.</p><p>Crawford&#8217;s appeal argued that Pierantoni failed to instruct the jury on an intoxication defense and whether Crawford was &#8220;under a state of duress when the crime occurred&#8221; as a result of alleged abuse at the hands of Roche.</p><p>In their response, prosecutors cited case law in ruling on the acceptance of Crawford&#8217;s testimony.</p><p>&#8220;Questions concerning the admissibility of evidence lie within the sound discretion of the trial court, and a reviewing court will not reverse the court&#8217;s decision on such a question absent a clear abuse of discretion,&#8221; Skibitsky wrote.</p><p>Court documents filed Wednesday indicate Roche, who <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/505078/attorneys-for-convicted-double-murderer-james-roche-lay-groundwork-for-appeal" target="_blank">laid the groundwork for an appeal</a> a day before Crawford, was granted more time to file his potential challenge of the court&#8217;s ruling.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_crawford.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Holly Crawford, seen here at the start of her double homicide trial, is seeking a new trial. Prosecutors cited case law in challenging Crawford&#8217;s appeal on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_crawford.jpg</photo0><caption0>Holly Crawford, seen here at the start of her double homicide trial, is seeking a new trial. Prosecutors cited case law in challenging Crawford&#8217;s appeal on Wednesday. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County prosecutors challenge convicted double murderer Holly Ann Crawford’s appeal