Uniontown man to represent himself in death penalty case
A Uniontown man charged with paying a teenager in cash and drugs to carry out a fatal shooting will represent himself in two cases, one of which carries a possible death sentence.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e asking to basically put your life in your own hands as opposed to having an attorney who has been through a capital case multiple times,鈥� Fayette County Judge Linda Cordaro told Calvin Huffman on Monday.
鈥淚s that what you鈥檙e asking?鈥� the judge asked Huffman, who replied with a simple, 鈥淵es.鈥�
The 38-year-old is accused of compensating then-14-year-old Antonyo Owens with $5,000 and three large bags of marijuana to kill Anthony Jones, 38, of Uniontown. The fatal shooting took place in broad daylight near a church in Uniontown鈥檚 East End on June 6, 2023.
Huffman is also charged with trying to escape from the Fayette County jail.
In a prepared statement, Huffman said he did not receive 鈥渆ffective assistance鈥� from his lawyer.
鈥淢y attorney has failed to file critical motions for discovery, which has hindered my ability to prepare a proper defense. Without access to evidence, I cannot prepare to contest the charges against me, and I invoke my Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial,鈥� he said.
During Monday鈥檚 hearing, both of Huffman鈥檚 court-appointed attorneys were present. Ben Goodwin was appointed to represent him in the escape case, and Joseph Zupancic, who was assigned to the homicide case.
Zupancic, an attorney certified by the state to handle death penalty cases, told Cordaro he had prepared three motions on Huffman鈥檚 behalf but waited to file them until a court made a decision on whether or not Huffman would represent himself. The motions included requests for additional counsel, a litigation specialist and an investigator.
Zupancic, appointed to represent Huffman on Jan. 24, said he had three conversations with his client prior to Monday鈥檚 hearing. The motion for Huffman to represent himself was filed on March 17.
Huffman told Cordaro he did not graduate high school, but did earn a GED. He also told the judge he understood that he would not be able to claim his trial attorney was ineffective if he represents himself.
鈥淭hat is a recourse that a defendant has .. and you wouldn鈥檛 have the same ability to file for ineffectiveness,鈥� she said.
Cordaro also asked about Huffman鈥檚 familiarity with the rules of how evidence is presented, to which Huffman replied with 鈥淎 little bit.鈥�
鈥淎nd how is it that you are familiar with rules of evidence?鈥� the judge asked.
鈥淚 bought a book,鈥� Huffman said.
Ultimately, Codaro said Huffman had made an 鈥渋ntelligent and voluntary waiver of his rights鈥� and granted his request to represent himself. She also said a stand-by attorney would be appointed to assist with procedural questions during trial.