Homicide suspect-turned-witness from Charleroi released
A former criminal homicide suspect who became a key witness in a cold-case murder trial has been set free.
Howard Edward Irwin Jr., 41, of Charleroi was sentenced on Thursday by Washington County Judge Janet Moschetta Bell to a minimum sentence of one year less one day for hindering apprehension or prosecution.
The sentence was part of a deal that required Irwin to enter a guilty plea and testify against two men convicted on Tuesday of first-degree murder in the shooting death of John Newman of California.
Prosecutors dropped criminal homicide and conspiracy charges against Irwin.
Michael "Cleveland Mike" Duncan, 34, of Amherst, Ohio, and John Ira Bronson Jr., 54, a Monessen native, face life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Feb. 3, 2003, execution-style slaying.
Newman's wife, Brenda, and daughter, Lindsey, found his body in a car outside their borough home. He died from a single 9 mm gunshot to the head.
Bell ordered that Irwin, who had been incarcerated since Jan. 14, 2011, be released from the Greene County Jail after he reported to a probation officer on Thursday. He will serve probation for the remainder of the maximum sentence, two years less two days.
After more than eight hours of deliberation on Tuesday, a jury convicted Duncan and Bronson of first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit homicide.
Irwin testified that Duncan was the shooter and he wanted to kill Newman because he "was a snitch."
Irwin, Bronson and Duncan were charged as a result of a Washington County grand jury investigation.
Prosecutors alleged Newman was a drug addict and street-level dealer who agreed to conduct a drug buy from Bronson.
After Bronson was arrested, prosecutors said, he agreed to become a confidential informant for state police. Instead, he sought to have Newman killed.
During a sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Darren Newberry told the judge Irwin that cooperated with authorities.
"He has fulfilled his requirements of the plea agreement," Newberry said. "The commonwealth does not believe that Mr. Irwin was involved in the actual planning or homicide of Mr. John Newman."
Defense attorney Alan Benyak of Charleroi told the judge that Irwin, a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, is an "intelligent and charming" man.
"I hope this event helps Mr. Irwin rehabilitate," Benyak said. "Every day is a day he cannot recapture. I hope he uses this to go forward. ... This is a very dark moment in his life, and I'm hoping we will not see him in Washington County Court again."
Benyak said Irwin was steadfast in his willingness to testify. "It just didn't happen when the pot was sweetened," Benyak said. "He intended to testify from the beginning."
Walking out of the courtroom, Irwin expressed relief.
"I'm just glad that it's all over," he said.
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