Metro

A Clearfield County man awaiting sentence for the bombing death of 34-year-old Shawna Carlson has filed a federal petition asking the judge who presided in his case to vacate the jury’s guilty verdict and order either his acquittal or a new trial.

Attorney Frank C. Walker II of Clairton, who represents Clint Addleman, 49, filed the petition Thursday with the U.S. District Court in Johnstown.

Addleman, formerly of Morrisdale, was convicted by a jury on March 19 on four charges that resulted from an explosion inside Carlson’s apartment at 327 E. Market St. in downtown Clearfield during the early morning hours of Oct. 4, 2019.

Addleman and an accomplice, Kris Nevling, 49, of Houtzdale, are scheduled to be sentenced for Carlson’s death in July.

Nevling was convicted last August for his role in the plot to kill Carlson, who, it is alleged, owed a drug debt to Addleman.

According to testimony during the trials, Addleman had vowed to kill Carlson, who lived in fear of his retribution over her $800 debt.

She told a friend, “I’m going to take the bullet fed to me. I think I’m going to end up dead for real.”

The Addleman defense attorney, however, is questioning the verdict returned by six men and six women, and has asked Judge Stephanie L. Haines to vacate the jury’s decision.

Addleman was found guilty of possessing an unregistered destructive device; conspiracy to destroy property by explosion or fire; malicious destruction of property resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Walker in the defense petition contended the evidence against Addleman was weak, and that many witnesses who linked him to the bomb were individuals seeking leniency involving their own criminal cases.

“Not a single witness testified to seeing Mr. Addleman possess the actual destructive device,” the defense pointed out.

No physical evidence was able to link Addleman to the pipe bomb that killed the young woman, although there was testimony he did have parts to make a pipe bomb, the petition continued.

The evidence linking Addleman to Nevling came from a female witness who during the trial testified she heard the two discussing that Carlson owed money to Addleman, and, she said, the discussion concluded with an agreement that they would “just take care of it.”

The defense petition repeatedly proclaimed the government failed to show Addleman ever possessed the “destructive device” that killed Carlson.

“It similarly did not establish that Mr. Addleman caused the device to be created,” according to the petition.

One of the key witnesses presented by the government was a fellow inmate who testified Addleman told him he made the bomb and that Nevling was the one who delivered it.

That witness, according to the defense, admitted he was cooperating with the government “with the express hope of receiving a reduced sentence.”

Another witness wrote down what Addleman told him in hopes he would also “get some time cut from his sentence.”

A third witness admitted he was expecting “favorable treatment” from the government.

And a fourth witness commented that he was hoping for early release by testifying against Addleman.

“These witnesses are the only ones which can attempt to link Mr. Addleman to the elements that he made, possessed, delivered or caused the bomb to kill Shawna Carlson, each of them having deficits in their credibility,” according to the defense.

The bomb that killed Carlson was in a package delivered to her doorstep on Oct. 4, 2019.

It was addressed to “Star,” her nickname, and it was disguised as a belated birthday gift.

“Sorry it took so long,” it stated on the outside.

It also stated there was a recorded message inside the package. “Play it,” she was told.

The package, taken inside, exploded.

In her Tuesday order, Haines gave the prosecution until June 30 to respond to the defense petition.