Self-defense claimed in Wellsville shooting

By TOM GIAMBRONI




LISBON -- The attorney for the Wellsville man accused of shooting Jamie Farley to death says his client acted in self-defense.

The claim was included in a court motion seeking a bond reduction on behalf of Eric M. Dillard, 30, of Commerce Street, Wellsville, who is charged with murder in the April 22 shooting death of Farley, 35, of East Liverpool.

Defense attorney James Hartford, in a motion filed in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, said the facts in the case will demonstrate the shooting was "justifiable homicide" because Farley had shown up earlier in the day at Dillardás home and threatened to kill Dillard and his family before being ordered to leave.

âThis individual had in the past threatened to kill the defendant as well as made threats of violence toward others in the community and had an extensive criminal history in courts throughout Columbiana County,ã Hartford continued.

Farleyás criminal record included being charged with assault, criminal damaging, criminal trespassing, obstructing police business and aggravated menacing, all misdemeanors. Hartford pointed out Farley was also a convicted drug trafficker and had served time in prison, with court records showing he pleaded guilty to selling cocaine in 1998. But Dillard has a criminal record of his own, having pleaded guilty to preparing drugs for sale after police in 1999 found 10 small bags of marijuana in the trunk of his car. Dillard was sentenced to a four-year probation/treatment program, the terms of which he later violated after testing positive for cocaine use.

According to court records, Wellsville police received a report just before 10 p.m. April 22 of shots having been fired, and police officer David Anderson arrived at Dillardás home to find him holding a semi-automatic handgun. Dillard admitted to having just shot Farley, who was lying next to a parked car. Farley was taken to East Liverpool City Hospital, where he died at 10:46 p.m. Dillard originally was charged in county Municipal Court, where Judge Carol A. Robb set bond at $2 million. The case then was bound over to Common Pleas Court for indictment by the county grand jury, which has yet to to occur.

Hartford asked that Dillard be granted personal recognizance bond in place of the $2 million bond, saying his client is not a risk to flee, has a 2-year-old son he cares for and would be willing to live with any restrictions placed on him by the court.

County Prosecutor Robert Herron believes the bond should be kept in place.

"Our position is we felt, based on the defendantás criminal history and nature of the criminal offense, we felt the bond on this matter ä $2 million ä was appropriate," he said.

A hearing on the bond reduction motion was held Monday, and Judge C. Ashley Pike is expected to rule on the motion as early as today.

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