A Jeannette man serving a 25-year prison sentence for the shooting death of a romantic rival has appealed his conviction.
The incident occurred outside of Jeannette’s high school football stadium in 2019.
Greg A. Harper, 46, unsuccessfully attempted last year to withdraw a guilty plea to third-degree murder. He entered that plea in May 2022, claiming he was coerced to do so by his former defense lawyer. Harper contends he only agreed to plead guilty after being assured by his lawyer it would result in a sentence in which he was not required to serve any additional time in prison.
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger sentenced Harper in November 2022 to serve 11 to 25 years in prison.
Harper contends he was strong-armed by his lawyer into accepting the plea deal. Krieger, in a lengthy opinion filed in December, rejected Harper’s claims. The judge’s ruling cited testimony from defense attorney Patrick Thomassey during a hearing last year in which he denied coercing Harper or advising him that he would be immediately released from jail. The judge said Harper’s appeal was without merit.
In his new appeal to the state’s Superior Court, Harper raised similar claims. New defense attorney Ken Noga in the court filing said Krieger erroneously disregarded Harper’s “credible testimony.”
Prosecutors said Harper shot and killed Damieian Williams, 48, after an argument at the gate of McKee Stadium on Sept. 6, 2019. About 1,500 spectators were at the game to see Jeannette High School play Imani Christian Academy.
Williams was found outside the stadium’s Park Street gate with a wound to the abdomen and was unarmed, police said.
According to court records, investigators claimed Harper was jealous and believed Williams and Harper’s former wife were in a romantic relationship. Harper in court pleadings claimed he acted in self defense and he feared for his safety because he believed Williams had previous convictions for violent crimes.
