Hearing for suspect is delayed
SLIPPERY ROCK — A preliminary hearing for a Portersville area man accused of shooting another man during an argument over a vehicle has been delayed while the defendant remains on suicide watch in the Butler County Prison, authorities said.
District Judge Bill O'Donnell on Wednesday continued the hearing for 70-year-old Paul J. Harper upon learning the defendant was placed in the prison's behavior modification unit earlier this week after reportedly making threats to harm himself.
Harper has been jailed since July 3 following his arrest on attempted homicide and other charges.
The defendant, according to state police, went to Christopher Galbreath's home on Route 19 in Muddy Creek Township and fired a shotgun, hitting Galbreath in the arm.
Galbreath was treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and later released.
Police said Harper was arrested later that night at a home in Perry Township, Lawrence County, and confessed to shooting the victim.
He told investigators that he was upset that he sold a car to Galbreath for about $5,500 around 1½ years ago, and recently saw the same car for sale on Craigslist for $30,000, court documents said.
Harper was arraigned July 4 on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, and jailed on $250,000 bail.
But less than two hours later, a judge revoked bail after Harper allegedly made statements that if he got out of jail, he was going to kill Galbreath.
About three weeks ago, Butler County Warden Joe DeMore said the inmate went on a brief hunger strike.
While under suicide watch, the defendant is confined to a padded cell that has no toilet or bunk so he can't harm himself. He must sleep on the floor in an “antisuicide” gown, DeMore said.
Harper's attorney, Meagan Temple of Pittsburgh, would not comment on her client's condition but said she believed he was being well cared for at the prison.
Temple appeared at O'Donnell's office Wednesday afternoon and was prepared for the hearing. She admitted the delay was “something unexpected.”
She declined to comment on the charges against her client.
Harper's preliminary hearing was not immediately rescheduled.
