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LISBON -- A Wellsville man accused of lying to police during the investigation into the shooting death of Robert E. Herron pleaded not guilty to obstructing justice.
Brandon Kessler, 41, 10th Street, appeared via video from the Columbiana County jail for arraignment on the third-degree felony charge in county Common Pleas Court.
His bond of $50,000 cash or surety was continued and Terry Grenga was appointed as his defense attorney.
"He was definitely not truthful in some of the statements he gave to investigators," county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said recently when contacted about the secret indictment, adding that "he fabricated events."
Herron, 30, East Liverpool, was found shot to death behind a residential garage after Wellsville police responded to a call of possible shots fired on Tenth Street on Sept. 9, 2024. Police apparently talked to Kessler on Sept. 10, 2024.
Jeno Wall, 34, Steubenville, the man accused of killing Herron, remains incarcerated under a $1 million cash or surety bond, after being charged with unclassified felonies of aggravated murder and murder and third-degree felony intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case, along with firearm specifications for allegedly using a firearm to cause Herron's death.
A jury trial was set April 8 for Wall, with a final status hearing set for 11:20 a.m. March 31.
Kessler's case was assigned to Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam.