No contest plea entered
A Ronco woman accused of shooting a 13-year-old boy last Jan. 14 pleaded no contest Tuesday to aggravated assault and related charges in Fayette County Court. Melissa Katherine Collins, 31, entered her plea before President Judge William J. Franks. In exchange for pleading no contest to aggravated and simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, Collins will serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison. A no contest plea means that Collins cannot defend herself against the charges.
Collins, represented by attorney Nicholas Timperio, was charged with shooting Joshua Ryan Shields through the window of a Puritan Village Road home in McClellandtown with a .22-caliber rifle.
The bullet hit Shields in the left side of the chest, according to police reports.
State police initially charged her with attempted homicide, but that charge was dropped at the preliminary hearing level.
Frank Kilo, whose gun was used in the shooting, testified at Collins’ preliminary hearing that he and “Chico,” Collins’ husband, were watching a football game when she came in and grabbed his gun.
A short time later, Kilo said he heard a shot, and then Collins returned with the weapon and said she wanted to stab herself.
When police were called and questioned Collins about the shooting, she reportedly gave them a verbal statement indicating that she “shot across the road to the field near (Shields’) house.”
Cpl. James H. Powell testified at the preliminary hearing that Collins appeared to be intoxicated and admitted she had been drinking.
This is the second time Collins has entered a plea. She pleaded guilty to the same offenses before Judge Conrad B. Capuzzi in December. That plea agreement was for nine to 23 months. It was withdrawn before her sentencing.
Franks will sentence Collins at a later date.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Eugene Grimm represented the commonwealth during the plea proceeding.