On Friday, December 27, 2024, Pennlive reported that a suspended magisterial judge from Harrisburg, Sonya McKnight, will face trial for allegedly shooting her ex-boyfriend in the head while he slept. The trial is set to take place in Dauphin County, with a jury selected from outside the county, following a recent decision by the court.
The incident in question occurred shortly after midnight on February 10, when McKnight, 58, is accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend, Michael McCoy. This event followed a week in which McCoy reportedly urged McKnight to vacate his home in Susquehanna Township after their breakup. Fortunately, McCoy survived the shooting.
On December 11, McKnight’s attorney, Cory Leshner, filed a motion for a change in venire, which refers to the process of altering the jury pool for a trial. The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office did not oppose this motion, leading Senior Judge Howard Knisely to approve it. For this motion to take effect, it must be certified by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which will also designate the new county from which jurors will be selected.
Leshner emphasized that McKnight’s previous role as an elected official and her high profile within the Dauphin County community would hinder the possibility of assembling a fair and impartial jury. He pointed out that several conflicts of interest had already resulted in recusals among local judges, further supporting the need for a jury from a different jurisdiction.
Typically, defendants are tried in the county where the alleged crime occurred. However, McKnight’s case has seen a series of recusals due to her position as a sitting judge who had previously ruled on cases alongside other district judges.
The case was heard by Magisterial District Judge William Kraut from Erie County and Knisely, a retired Lancaster County judge, and is being prosecuted by the neighboring Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office.
The Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office initially requested the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General to oversee the investigation. However, this request was declined because McKnight is currently involved in a federal lawsuit against one of the investigators from the Attorney General’s office. Consequently, the decision reverted to Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, who selected Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack to handle the prosecution.
McKnight first took office in 2015 and successfully ran for re-election in 2021, even amidst an ongoing criminal investigation related to her son’s traffic stop, which she ultimately won at trial. As the upcoming trial approaches, the focus will remain on ensuring an impartial jury is convened to consider the serious charges against her. The trial is scheduled to commence on April 7, 2025.
Source: Pennlive
