Jeannette man's appeal of third-degree murder conviction rejected

A Westmoreland County judge Monday rejected the appeal of a Jeannette man serving up to 18 years in prison for the 2016 third-degree murder of an armed man.

Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani ruled there were no grounds to support the appeal filed by Jamere Ramone Glanton, who prosecutors said fired eight shots including multiple rounds that struck the head and face of 20-year-old Rashaad McCoy of Pittsburgh.

Glanton, who was 19 at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty in March 2017 to a reduced count of murder. He was originally charged with first-degree murder, a crime that if convicted carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Feliciani sentenced Glanton to serve 8 1/2-to 18 years in prison.

According to his appeal, Glanton claimed he did not want to plead guilty and instead wanted a jury to determine his case. Feliciani ruled there was no evidence to support that claim and that Glanton’s appeal was filed two years too late.

Glanton initially contended he shot McCoy in self defense inside a South Seventh Street apartment in Jeannette. Witnesses claimed McCoy was armed with an automatic rifle and waved the weapon after claiming he had been robbed of heroin.

Prosecutors said there was no evidence a robbery had been committed.