Monongahela Township man pleads no contest to holding family at gunpoint

WAYNESBURG – The mother of a Monongahela Township man accused of holding his family hostage at gunpoint last year asked the prosecutors not to proceed with the charges against her son.
Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox said she took Carol Reese’s wishes as a victim into consideration in the case, but she had an obligation to move forward due to the possibility of serious harm.
“Although I respect and did read Mrs. Reese’s letter, I cannot withdraw prosecution on this case,” Fox said in Greene County Court Wednesday morning.
Samuel Roy Reese Jr., 40, of 218 Little Chicago Road, was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison after he pleaded no contest because he said that he did not remember much of what occurred Dec. 28.
“We were fine. I was in a dead sleep. I woke up from a dead sleep,” he said, adding he remembered screaming at someone, then was unsure of the following events and that “things happened so fast.”
As part of the negotiated plea agreement, the most serious charges, two counts of robbery and one of kidnapping, were dismissed.
Reese pleaded no contest to person not to possess firearms, theft, a summary charge of driving with a suspended license and three counts each of simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and summary harassment. Reese also was fined $500 for the summary driving violation and received jail time credit since Jan. 4. No restitution was sought from the victims.
Carol Reese told Greene County Judge Lou Dayich she thought she was doing the right thing for her son when she called police.
“He’s my only son and I love him,” she said. “It was all domestic and he needed help. I thought this was the way to help him.”
She said her daughter, who also was involved in the incident, was of the same opinion. She added her son was hardworking but got mixed up with drugs. She wished for a shorter sentence and rehabilitation and felt responsible for his incarceration.
“I don’t think you did wrong by calling the police,” Dayich assured her.
Reese previously was deemed not competent to stand trial and received mental health treatment from Torrance State Hospital. Dayich remarked on Reese’s “tremendous improvement” since seeing him last.
“You look so much different today than when I saw you before” the involuntary commitment, Dayich said. “The difference is remarkable.”
Reese told the judge he had a history of mental health problems.
“I wish you the best in your continuing path of recovery,” Dayich told Reese as he prepared to leave the courtroom. “It’s not your mom’s fault.”
Cumberland Township police responded to reports of a man making threats with a firearm at a home in Crucible at around 8 p.m. Dec. 28.
Carol Reese told officers Samuel came to the home to take money from her, but when she refused to give him money or her debit card, Samuel began to push her and pulled out a handgun and held it to her head. Carol said Samuel fired two shots from inside a Little Chicago Road home earlier that day.
Police said Samuel also shoved his sister, Gina Reese, and held the gun to Carol’s throat when she tried to intervene. Police said Samuel also pointed the gun at another family member at least twice, but he was able to escape through a window.
Police said Samuel grabbed Carol by her shirt and pulled her out of the Third Avenue home, demanding money. Gina insisted she go instead and took her mother’s debit card, with Samuel driving them to First National Bank in Dry Tavern to withdraw money from Carol’s bank account, according to the criminal complaint. Police said Samuel withdrew an undisclosed amount of money from the account.
Gina told investigators Samuel threatened to drive the car into the river and said she would need to jump from the car to avoid drowning. Police arrested him a week later.