Centre County’s district attorney says an appeal is in the works after a recent state Superior Court opinion ordered a new trial in an attempted murder case that’s more than a decade old.
The story behind the stunning decision revisits what one Centre County administrator terms “a challenging time for the county court system.”
In 2012, Randall Brooks was convicted by a jury of attempted murder and other charges.
Police say in 2009, a masked Brooks was reportedly driving his truck on a rural stretch of road, north of Bellefonte, when he pulled alongside his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, who was driving to work, and opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when the state Superior Court ordered a new trial for Randall Brooks for a surprising reason as undisclosed text messages between the prosecutor in the case and the presiding judge.
Former Centre County DA Stacy Parks Miller is accused of privately communicating with presiding judge Bradley Lunsford, during the trial proceedings, in what the superior court opinion termed “structural constitutional violations.”
“This is a case where it’s never appropriate, but why; the evidence was clear, the injuries were significant and what was going to happen, was going to happen, so why in the world would anybody engage in this type of unethical behavior.”
Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna has confirmed that an appeal is in the works.
“We have the right to appeal to the supreme court, and we’ll be filing that appeal.”
The Brooks trial is among several cases at the time that have raised questions in the Centre County court system.
“That time period was such a challenge for the legal system and county government.”
For the DA, the Brooks case involves public integrity in the court system.
“To be reminded of it again is to go back to a very dark period in Centre County that we don’t want to go back to; it’s just hard to, it is maybe hard for us in the legal system, but for the victims who have to come back and relive these events.”
The DA says the two people tied to the Brooks shooting have been contacted, as they are worried about Brooks being freed from jail.
But for now, he’ll remain behind bars while another court decision is awaited on whether the state Supreme Court will consider the appeal.