STROUDSBURG, Pa. – A northeastern Pennsylvania man accused of killing three people at a municipal meeting in August has pleaded not guilty to homicide charges.
Authorities say 59-year-old Rockne Newell sprayed dozens of rifle rounds as he targeted officials in Ross Township, a Pocono Mountains community about 85 miles north of Philadelphia.
Monroe County District Attorney David Christine intends to seek the death penalty for Newell, who pleaded not guilty at his video arraignment Monday.
Prosecutors say the junk dealer was upset over the loss of his debris-strewn property after a lengthy court fight with the township. The township had acted on complaints that he lived in a storage shed, built an illegal culvert and used a bucket outside as a toilet.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
