Penn Township man found guilty of shooting at police

A Penn Township man who fired one shot from a high-powered rifle through a wall and toward police officers responding to a domestic violence call at his home was convicted Friday of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.

The Westmoreland County jury deliberated more than three hours before it found Jody Martz guilty of 12 counts, including multiple charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and simple assault in the Aug. 31, 2016, shooting incident. Martz also was convicted of an additional count of witness intimidation police said occurred in December.

Martz, 56, was found not guilty of one count of attempted murder and single offenses of witness intimidation and retaliation against a witness.

“Given the fact that this involves law enforcement and the consequences of his actions in shooting at police officers, this is of the utmost seriousness,” Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr said. “I believe that justice was done as a result of this verdict.”

Martz faces a mandatory 20-year prison term and could be sentenced to up to 100 years behind bars, Barr said. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears, who presided over the six-day trial, said he will sentence Martz in about three months.

Martz did not testify during the trial. Seven character witnesses testified as his defense.

Defense attorney Jeff Monzo, in his closing argument, said Martz had no intent to hurt or injure the officers.

Martz, he said, was suicidal.

“He sat there and contemplated taking his own life,” Monzo told jurors. “If it had been handled (by police) for what it was, there wouldn’t have been a shot.”

Monzo said he is disappointed with the verdict and hadn’t yet spoken with Martz about a potential appeal. Martz will remain in jail pending his sentencing.

The prosecution contended the shooting incident followed a fight Martz had with his wife prior to her hosting a home interior party at their Thomas Street residence. Martz, a nuclear inspector at Westinghouse, drank a bottle of vodka, eventually became further enraged and later attacked his wife and about 10 women who were at their home.

Police said Martz retreated to the basement and gathered up a Winchester rifle and ammunition after the women fled.

Witnesses testified Martz fired one shot through a wall seconds after police arrived.

Penn Township Patrolman David Noll told jurors debris from the blast blew a hole through his uniform shirt and left an impact mark on his chest.

None of the other two officers who responded were injured, and Noll did not require medical attention.

“We all have bad days,” Barr said, “but we don’t take out a rifle and shoot at police.”