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Two to stand trial in robbery, assault of Cecil man
Staff writer
Two men were ordered Wednesday to stand trial on charges that they robbed a Cecil Township man at his home and one of them shot the victim.
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The 22-year-old Franell initially entered the courtroom with the hood on his black jacket pulled up to obscure his face. He was asked to leave the courtroom so sheriff's deputies could check him with a hand-held metal detector. The deputies made the additional check as part of increased security in the courtroom.
Franell testified that he got a call to pick up Lomax and Wade at a North Strabane Township restaurant.
"We were going to do some music," said Franell, explaining that he has a recording studio in the basement of his home. "We were just chilling."
Franell's story changed from what he first told police. He was described as uncooperative when police responded to the shooting call. Initially, he told police he was assaulted and robbed by men wearing ski masks. He then told them he had gone inside his house to get some compact discs.
And his story changed on the witness stand when he said he came out of the sound room in his basement and Lomax confronted him with the gun. Franell said the suspects threatened to harm him if he said who shot him.
"I walked out and was stuck up by Corey," Franell said. "He told me to get on the ground."
He said that Wade also had a gun.
"I told them I didn't have anything," Franell said. "Deets went upstairs and started looking."
Franell told Assistant District Attorney Josh Carroll that he stood up and went toward Lomax.
"That's when he unloaded," Franell said. "He shot four times, and one of the bullets hit me in the right side."
The bullet remains lodged in his groin.
"I have mental and physical problems. It's devastating," Franell said.
He said Wade came downstairs when he heard the shots. Wade rolled over Franell and took his cell phone that had been strapped on his jeans.
The two left driving Franell's Cadillac.
Attorney Komron Maknoon, who represented both defendants, asked Franell if he was testifying against his clients to help in his own case, which Franell denied.
Franell was charged by Cecil police with receiving stolen property, possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana after officers found a stolen handgun and suspected marijuana at his home after the shooting. Police obtained a warrant to search the home after the shooting.
Franell admitted they had smoked marijuana prior to the shooting. Franell, who is free on $10,000 unsecured bond, faces a May 8 preliminary hearing before District Judge Valarie Costanzo.
Police have not found the weapon used in the shooting.
Wade was found not guilty last year in the Sept. 29, 2005, shooting death of Susan VanSyckle and the shooting of Darnell Steven Brown in Washington. Lomax was his alibi witness in the case.
Lomax is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, theft and conspiracy to commit robbery, theft and simple assault. Wade is charged with robbery, simple assault, theft and conspiracy to commit robbery, simple assault and theft.
Both men remain in Washington County Jail on $100,000 bond.
