Callahan convicted for the 3rd time

CLEARFIELD - It took a jury about two hours Thursday to find Andrew J. Callahan guilty of first-degree murder for the 1997 shooting death of a Clearfield County classmate.

Callahan was immediately sentenced to life in prison without parole by Clearfield County President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman. He was also found guilty of aggravated assault and abuse of a corpse.

Pollock's family gave sighs of relief, while some in Callahan's shook their heads as the verdict was read.

Callahan was on trial for the third time for the murder of 15-year-old Micah Pollock on Nov. 5, 1997, in the Pine Run area of Beccaria Township, Clearfield County. Two previous convictions were overturned by the state Superior Court because of improper jury instructions.

During his jury instructions, Ammerman stressed the differences between first-degree murder, third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The jury could find Callahan guilty of one of those charges and one only, he said.

For instance, if jurors decided that Callahan was not guilty of first-degree murder, they move to third-degree murder. If they found him guilty of that charge, then they could not find him guilty of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, Ammerman instructed.

The jury began deliberating about 9:50 a.m.

About 11:10 a.m., jurors had a question regarding the difference between first-and third-degree murder, to which Ammerman re-read the definitions. The jury brought back its guilty verdict 40 minutes later.

Prior to issuing his sentence, Ammerman announced that he would not allow either family to address the court, which is normally common prior to a sentencing. They spoke during the two prior sentencings.

"It's just so unfortunate that families on both sides had to through with this," Ammerman said.

Pollock's father, Ron Klotz, said that given the opportunity, he would have asked Callahan how many more times he needs to be convicted.

"For the sake of the families, ours and his, he needs to let it go," he said.

Klotz said that he's spoken to different people across the state, and that no one has ever heard of a case coming up three times.

"There needs to be a change in the appeals system. Taxpayers should be enraged, too," he said.

Callahan took the witness stand for the third time Wednesday. He again testified that the shooting was an accident as he and Pollock were hunting for grouse and that he was high on drugs at the time - a story the jury didn't believe.

District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. previously told jurors that the trial was about an "intentional killing" because Callahan had become jealous of Pollock following a break-up with his girlfriend. He said that Callahan's jealousy evolved into his premeditated plans to kill Pollock.

When Callahan testified, Klotz said it made him sick. Callahan's testimony was well-rehearsed, he said.

He praised the jury, whom he said did a very good job.

"[And District Attorney] Bill Shaw did an excellent job," he said. "... It feels like a relief here today. I just hope it ends."

Aaron T. Evans is the editor of www.GantDaily.com.