web1_122328155-ee06c2b881ca49ef8bc6f201486bd02d.jpg

Trumptamps downexpectations

web1_Flyers-Caps-Jan.jpg

Flyers trade Wayne Simmonds to Predators, reunite him with Peter Laviolette

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Convicted killer Antoine McNeal, 34, won&#8217;t be eligible for parole until he&#8217;s almost 66 under a sentence handed down Monday.</p><p>A jury in January found McNeal, of Wilkes-Barre, guilty on counts of third-degree murder, criminal use of a communications facility, robbery and tampering with evidence.</p><p>He was convicted of fatally shooting 20-year-old Brandon Smith in a van outside of Smith&#8217;s Nanticoke home in the early morning hours of Jan. 18, 2017.</p><p>At trial, prosecutors painted the attack as a robbery gone wrong, accusing him of going to Smith&#8217;s home to buy $500 worth of marijuana. Upon arrival, they said McNeal shot Smith twice and stole a handful of Percocet pills Smith had in his possession.</p><p>McNeal appeared in court on Monday before Luzerne County Judge Tina Polachek Gartley for sentencing. The judge allowed members of Smith&#8217;s family to address the court first.</p><p>Smith&#8217;s sister, Destiny Crooks, had harsh words for McNeal.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe he&#8217;s sorry for what he did,&#8221; Crooks said. &#8220;I pray for him, I pray someday he&#8217;s remorseful for what he did.&#8221;</p><p>Briefly addressing the court himself, McNeal didn&#8217;t express any remorse, instead, maintaining he had nothing to do with the shooting.</p><p>&#8220;Condolences to the family but I had no part of what happened to your son,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p><p>McNeal said nothing else.</p><p>A large part of McNeal&#8217;s defense throughout his week-long trial was that he was not involved with the crime, claiming that prosecutors did not have enough physical evidence to convict him. However, a cell phone that was eventually found to belong to McNeal was retrieved from the van Smith was shot in.</p><p>Before issuing her sentence, Gartley expressed condolences to Smith&#8217;s family.</p><p>&#8220;At the sentencing stage, there isn&#8217;t much to say,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Nothing will bring your son back.&#8221;</p><p>Gartley ordered McNeal to spend an aggregate 31 to 63 years in prison. McNeal was granted 678 days credit for time served.</p><p>He will be required to pay nearly $20,000 in restitution. The bulk of that money will go to the Pennsylvania State Police to cover for lab work done during investigation.</p><p>An additional charge of possession of a firearm by a felon, which had been severed from the trial, was withdrawn by prosecutors.</p><p>McNeal was remanded back to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility after sentencing pending transfer to a state prison.</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/2019/02/web1_TTL060317McNeal-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">McNeal </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL060317McNeal-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>McNeal </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

McNeal gets decades in prison for 2017 Nanticoke homicide