Former Jeannette man awaiting retrial for 1993 fatal fire seeks release from jail

A former Jeannette man jailed for more than three decades in connection with the deaths of his wife and two young children wants to be released from custody as his case moves through the court system.

Lawyers for James Young, 58, contend his speedy trial rights have been violated. They will ask a Westmoreland County judge to release him on nominal bond at a hearing next month.

“He is bail eligible,” said attorney Elizabeth DeLosa.

Young was originally convicted in 1995 of arson and three counts of first-degree murder for the deadly house fire in Jeannette two years earlier. His 26-year-old wife, Gina Marie; stepson, Shaun Holden, 3; and Joshua, the couple’s 7-month-old baby, died in the fire.

He was sentenced to serve three consecutive life sentences after a jury declined to impose the death penalty.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani in March overturned the convictions, saying it was based on now discredited science that classified the deadly fire as being intentionally set.

Experts for the defense and prosecutors said that under revised fire investigation criteria, the cause of the Jeannette fire must now be labeled as undetermined.

For more than 30 years, Young has maintained his innocence.

Prosecutors say Young’s successful appeal will not alter their theory of the case that alleges he used gasoline to set fire to his family’s South 14th Street home.

In court documents filed last month, Young’s lawyers, attorneys with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, said if released, Young will live with an uncle in Adamsburg and work at his electrical business.

Young has been held in custody without bail since his conviction was overturned.

DeLosa contends Young is eligible for bail because prosecutors have failed to commence his retrial within six months.

In a court hearing on Tuesday, DeLosa contended prosecutors stalled in turning over required documents related to the case against Young. DeLosa asked that future trial delays not be attributed to the defense, a move that could bolster his argument for bond, she said.

DeLosa told the judge the defense intends to file additional pretrial motions challenging the evidence in the case against Young. A date for his retrial has not been set.

Prosecutors denied claims they have been slow to turn over evidence to the defense.

“The DA’s office opposes releasing Mr. Young on bail,” said spokeswoman Melanie Jones.

Young’s former in-laws live in Maryland and were in court Tuesday. They said they continue to have confidence in the legal process and object to his potential pretrial release.

“As far as I’m concerned, I like it where he is at,” said Warren Lupson, the victim’s father and grandfather.