Uniontown man accused of paying teen to carry out fatal shooting will head to trial
A Uniontown man charged with paying a teenager in cash and drugs to carry out a fatal shooting had his case held for trial in Fayette County Court, where prosecutors will pursue the death penalty.
Calvin Huffman, 37, represented himself during a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges that included criminal solicitation to commit homicide and possession with intent to deliver drugs.
Huffman is accused of compensating then-14-year-old Antonyo Owens with $5,000 in cash and three large bags of marijuana to shoot Anthony Jones, 38, of Uniontown, on June 6, 2023. The fatal shooting occurred in the middle of the day near a church in Uniontown’s East End.
When Hufman was charged in June, Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said it was his intention to seek the death penalty against Huffman if he is convicted.
Despite the 2015 moratorium on executions in Pennsylvania signed by then-Gov. Tom Wolf, Aubele reiterated his stance on Thursday.
“It’s an approved method of punishment in this commonwealth, and when we have a governor who will sign death warrants, we’ll have a death penalty,” he said.
The county’s chief prosecutor said one of the factors he considered in pursuing the death penalty is the allegation that Huffman paid a child to kill Jones.
Aubele confirmed Thursday that Huffman opted to represent himself during his preliminary hearing.
“I can’t imagine that he’s going to be representing himself for very much longer,” he said. “Everybody is entitled to that if they want to, but it won’t change how we handle this case one way or another.”
According to Aubele, extra police presence was required at yesterday’s hearing because of the number of threats that have been to cooperating witnesses.
“Our police are going to investigate every crime, and people that are responsible are going to be brought to justice,” he said.
Huffman has a lengthy criminal history that stretches back 20 years, including a 2011 case in Fayette County where he was convicted of shooting a woman outside of a bar.
According to the Altoona Mirror, Huffman pleaded guilty to 16 charges in Bedford County in connection with an attack at a Sheetz, including felony kidnapping, in July. He also pleaded guilty to simple assault in a second Bedford case. According to the Mirror, the plea deal calls for Huffman to serve 2 to 4 years in prison.
As the investigation into Jones’ death continues, Aubele said he anticipates more people may face charges.
“There will certainly be more charges filed against other individuals that have been involved in criminal activity from this case,” he said.
Huffman’s next court appearance for a formal arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 17.