W-b Area To Keep School In Service 
In A Second Decision, The Board 
Compromises On The Name Of New 
Plains Township Elementary Building

2 Teens Caught In Act Of Spraying Graffiti, Say Cops

By WILLIAM SPECHT; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, June 18, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Barry Dillow said he was sorry. Sorry for fatally shooting
Glenn Morgis in December 1995 in the American Legion parking lot in Glen Lyon. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I never meant for any of this to happen," said Dillow 26, of Glen Lyon,
Newport Township, during Monday's sentencing on a charge of involuntary
manslaughter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Ciavarella said it was well
past the time for sorrow and time for Dillow to accept responsibility for his
actions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ciavarella called Dillow a threat to society and sentenced him to two to
four years in a state correctional institution. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Morgis' widow, Michelle Morgis, made a brief statement to the court asking
Ciavarella to take into account that her son would have to grow up without a
father and she would have to live without her husband. Morgis declined to
comment after the sentencing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dillow was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a Luzerne County
jury on May 10. That same jury acquitted Dillow of voluntary manslaughter and
aggravated assault charges. Had Dillow been convicted of either of those
charges, he could have faced a mandatory minimum of five years in jail. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dillow said he shot Glenn Morgis in self-defense on Dec. 27 in the American
Legion parking lot. Morgis had attacked Dillow's brother. Dillow intervened,
and said the 30-year-old Nanticoke man then came after him, backing him into
some parked vehicles, according to trial testimony. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dillow drew his gun after repeatedly telling Morgis to leave him alone.
Dillow said Morgis lunged for the gun, and he shot him -- once -- in the
chest. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ciavarella said that Dillow had other options besides deadly force. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You could have shot in the air, in the ground or in his leg -- but you
didn't," Ciavarella said. "You chose to shoot him in the chest." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dillow did not comment after his sentencing but his attorney, Barry Dyller,
said he is very disappointed with the amount of jail time his client received. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I thought it was a very harsh sentence, much harsher than the
circumstances warranted," said Dyller. "It's just discouraging that Dillow
will have to wait a year in jail before he gets his appeal heard." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dyller said he will appeal the involuntary manslaughter conviction to the
state Superior Court. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ciavarella also denied Dyller's motion for Dillow to remain free on bail
pending appeal of the sentence. Instead, Dillow was remanded to the Luzerne
County Correctional Facility for 45 days before beginning his state sentence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dyller said he sought bail because he was worried about Dillow serving any
time in the county correctional facility where Glenn Morgis' brother works as
a guard. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dyller said he was not maligning Morgis' brother's character but it is
human nature to want revenge. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ciavarella denied Dyller's request but said that if Morgis' brother did
anything but guard prisoners as he is supposed to, then he would have to
answer to the law. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Barry Dillow &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Apology Can't Stop 2- To 4-year Sentence 
Convicted Of Involuntary 
Manslaughter, Barry Dillow, 26, 
Of Newport Township, Said He Was 
Sorry For Shooting Glenn Morgis 
To Death During A Fight

Apology Can't Stop 2- To 4-year Sentence Convicted Of Involuntary Manslaughter, Barry Dillow, 26, Of Newport Township, Said He Was Sorry For Shooting Glenn Morgis To Death During A Fight