Plea bargain for yawning defendant nixed by Westmoreland County judge

A Pittsburgh man’s yawns during a court hearing Friday prompted a Westmoreland County judge to reject a proposed plea bargain in which the man would plead guilty to charges related to an armed robbery last year in Jeannette.

Jamar Miles, 19, of Pittsburgh, was expected to receive a sentence of two to four years in prison for his role in a violent March 29, 2019, heist at a South Fifth Street row home, but Westmoreland County Judge Tim Krieger suddenly put a stop to the proceedings.

Miles participated in the hearing by a video hookup from the county jail, where he has been since he turned 18 about two months after his arrest last year. The monitor on which Miles appeared faced the judge and could not be seen by others in the courtroom.

Krieger said Miles appeared to yawn multiple times as the judge read through each of the 30 counts to which he was to plead guilty.

“I’m not personally offended but I’m not sure this is appropriate,” Krieger said of the proposed plea deal. “This is a very violent crime and I want the detective here to testify. I’m not sure this is appropriate given this man’s attitude. He is showing he doesn’t respect the law.”

Defense attorney Amy Keim conceded that Miles yawned during the hearing but explained he claimed he had just awoken and was not attempting to be disrespectful.

Police said Miles, who was 17 at the time of the robbery, and three others were masked when, police say, they barged into the home and demanded marijuana and other drugs. According to court records, one man was punched in the head multiple times, and a second escaped out a window while an unsuccessful attempt was made to fire a gun at a woman in the house.

Police said an Xbox gaming system, cell phone, car keys, cigarettes, a wallet and $20 in cash were stolen from the home.

Charges are pending against Larenzo Dayshawn Peddicord, 19, Jermaine Walker, 17, and Isaiah Morton, 17, all of Jeannette. Each is each charged with robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and multiple other offenses. Miles, Walker and Morton, who were 15 at the time of their arrests, were charged as adults.