Coonrod pleads not guilty
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A father of two children killed in a Greenfield fire in March was arraigned on capital murder charges April 9 in Highland County Common Pleas Court where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Wesley Coonrod Sr., 42, appeared in court with his attorneys, Jerry McHenry and William Mooney, of the Ohio Public Defenders Office.
Before presiding Judge Rocky Coss, Coonrod waived his right to a speedy trial, which would have been scheduled for June 4, as the defense has requested more time to prepare, as it is a capital case. Trial has tentatively been scheduled to begin Oct. 4.
The first pretrial has been scheduled for June 2 at 1 p.m.
On April 6, a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court indicted Coonrod on two counts of aggravated murder, with specifications they are capital cases; one charge of aggravated arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree.
Coonrod was arrested following the March 7 fire on Lafayette Street in Greenfield that claimed the lives of his two sons, Thomas Coonrod, 4, and Stephen Coonrod, 3; and charged with two counts of endangering children, both felonies of the third degree. He is being held at the Highland County Justice Center on a $1 million bond, at $500,000 for each charge.
During the arraignment, the defense asked that bond be reduced to an amount that Coonrod could have a chance at posting, as he cannot make the $1 million bond. Mooney noted that Coonrod is a lifelong resident of Highland County and many ties to the community, and that it was unlikely he would not be present at trial.
Coss noted that Coonrod was facing murder charges that carried death penalty specifications, and continued bond at $1 million.
Coss told the court that he will be filing an entry that limits what participants in the trial can say to media, noting that the case has already received considerable publicity. Coss said that court would be closely monitoring what trial participants, including state and defense attorneys, witnesses, court employees, law enforcement officials and investigators, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, members of local fire department and the state fire marshal's office said to media outlets.
Following the hearing, Mooney declined to comment on behalf of Coonrod, noting that due to the court entry he was not permitted to extensively comment.
On April 6, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey said, "We are seeking the death penalty. It was our belief the deaths occurred during the commission of an aggravated arson. In the commission of that offense, he caused the deaths of two children under the age of 13."[[In-content Ad]]
Wesley Coonrod Sr., 42, appeared in court with his attorneys, Jerry McHenry and William Mooney, of the Ohio Public Defenders Office.
Before presiding Judge Rocky Coss, Coonrod waived his right to a speedy trial, which would have been scheduled for June 4, as the defense has requested more time to prepare, as it is a capital case. Trial has tentatively been scheduled to begin Oct. 4.
The first pretrial has been scheduled for June 2 at 1 p.m.
On April 6, a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court indicted Coonrod on two counts of aggravated murder, with specifications they are capital cases; one charge of aggravated arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree.
Coonrod was arrested following the March 7 fire on Lafayette Street in Greenfield that claimed the lives of his two sons, Thomas Coonrod, 4, and Stephen Coonrod, 3; and charged with two counts of endangering children, both felonies of the third degree. He is being held at the Highland County Justice Center on a $1 million bond, at $500,000 for each charge.
During the arraignment, the defense asked that bond be reduced to an amount that Coonrod could have a chance at posting, as he cannot make the $1 million bond. Mooney noted that Coonrod is a lifelong resident of Highland County and many ties to the community, and that it was unlikely he would not be present at trial.
Coss noted that Coonrod was facing murder charges that carried death penalty specifications, and continued bond at $1 million.
Coss told the court that he will be filing an entry that limits what participants in the trial can say to media, noting that the case has already received considerable publicity. Coss said that court would be closely monitoring what trial participants, including state and defense attorneys, witnesses, court employees, law enforcement officials and investigators, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, members of local fire department and the state fire marshal's office said to media outlets.
Following the hearing, Mooney declined to comment on behalf of Coonrod, noting that due to the court entry he was not permitted to extensively comment.
On April 6, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey said, "We are seeking the death penalty. It was our belief the deaths occurred during the commission of an aggravated arson. In the commission of that offense, he caused the deaths of two children under the age of 13."[[In-content Ad]]