A Fayette County man was returned to jail Thursday for allegedly intimidating a witness who is set to testify in his trial next week on attempted homicide charges.
Antwain Rashad Oliver, 24, of Uniontown, formerly of Brownsville, thought he was appearing before Washington County Judge Paul Pozonsky only to request a continuance of his trial so that he could obtain a new attorney. He showed up at the county courthouse with his young son and a woman, expecting to return home with them after the hearing.
Instead, Oliver was handcuffed and taken to the county jail by deputies after Pozonsky learned that Oliver purportedly approached and threatened a female witness Tuesday at a store in Redstone Township.
State police Cpl. David Watts said he planned to file intimidation of a witness charges against Oliver within 24 hours with District Judge Mike Delfino in Republic. Watts said he was notifying witnesses for next week's trial when he talked to the woman and learned of the incident. He said the woman was obviously shaken and was afraid for her safety.
According to Watts, Oliver told the woman that his arrest was the woman's fault because she had purchased crack cocaine from him and said he would pay her if she would change her testimony.
Oliver is accused of shooting 27-year-old James Orndoff on March 31, 2006, on Front Street in Fredericktown. The two had gotten into an argument at a Fredericktown bar.
Pozonsky told Oliver that the incident was an obvious violation of the bond that he had just posted after being jailed since his arrest. The judge ordered him returned to the jail pending his trial. Oliver responded with a loud sigh while shaking his head in disbelief.
Oliver, also known as "Pooh" and "Fresh," was on the lam for about six weeks after the shooting. He was found hiding May 24 in a bedroom at 1190 California Drive, Coal Center, by members of the Greater Pittsburgh Fugitive Task Force.
Pozonsky said he would consider Oliver's previous request to postpone his trial so that he could obtain a new attorney.
Before Thursday, Oliver had not expressed any dissatisfaction with his current attorney, Assistant Public Defender Brian Gorman. Oliver said nothing in court Monday despite repeated questioning by Pozonsky when he snubbed a 5- to 10-year plea deal from the prosecution, opting instead to go to trial and face a much longer prison sentence if convicted.
On Thursday, Oliver said he wanted a new attorney because he had never talked to Gorman prior to this week.
"I don't think we're ready for trial," he said. "I feel like we got no time to get everything together."
Gorman is Oliver's third attorney. Oliver first had another assistant public defender and then obtained a private attorney who represented him for about six months before resigning.
Pozonsky said he believed Gorman would adequately represent Oliver in the upcoming trial. The judge pointed out that it was likely the trial would be delayed for a day because one of the jurors who was chosen Monday had just called to report a death in his family.
"Please give me the chance to find another lawyer," Oliver responded, telling the judge his life was on the line.
Pozonsky said he would announce his decision today after meeting with Gorman and Assistant District Attorney Josh Carroll. If a continuance is granted, Pozonsky said it would be the last one granted to Oliver.