Man who allegedly lied to police wants charges dropped
A man who allegedly told police one thing in a murder investigation, and then testified to another wants false information charges filed against him dropped. Thomas Jefferson Beal, 38, initially told police that his estranged girlfriend, Crystal Dawn Weimer, had a hand in the January 2001 death of Curtis Haith.
But at an April 30 hearing, Beal reportedly said that the statements he gave to police were false. That hearing dealt with the charges filed against Weimer. The charges against Weimer were ultimately dropped when a judge ruled that prosecutors had little to proceed on without Beal’s testimony.
Police filed charges of false reports, unsworn falsification and obstruction the administration of the law against Beal over the alleged flip-flop.
Beal wants the charges against him dismissed because the only evidence against him is his own confession during the April hearing. His attorney, Mark Mehalov, claimed in the motion that prosecutors can’t make the case against him solely on that.
A hearing will likely be scheduled in the matter.
After a Friday confession from Joseph Cyril Stenger, Weimer was arrested by Connellsville police in Haith’s death on Monday. She’s charged with criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy and aggravated assault.
Stenger pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit homicide in exchange for nine to 18 years in prison for his role in the homicide.
Stenger must also help prosecutors build a case against any others involved in Haith’s death, and has already given audio and video statements in the case.
Haith died of blunt force injuries sustained when two men Stenger said he does not know beat Haith with clubs. Weimer orchestrated that beating, Stenger said Friday. He said she led Haith out of his home, where the two men were waiting to hit him.
Stenger, who said he was in the car for the bulk of the assault, said he got out of the car with a .380 caliber handgun and fired a shot to disperse everyone. That shot hit Haith in the cheek and exited through his lip.
Police do not believe that the shot caused Haith’s death.