Harrison Circuit Judge Thomas A. Bedell has presided over several homicide trials over the course of his 32-year career on the bench. Because he's retiring Dec. 31, the trial of murder suspect Ulices Alexander Pineda, set for July, could be Bedell's last.
Prosecutor Rachel Romano sought a continuance of the trial of Ulices Alexander Pineda, citing the inability of an expert witness to make the scheduled date.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — A Bridgeport man accused in a North View slaying will go on trial in the next term of Harrison County Circuit Court.
Ulices Alexander Pineda has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent in the June 2023 homicide of a fellow Harrison County resident.
Staff photo by Matt Harvey
Ulices Alexander Pineda, 44, had been scheduled for trial this term on charges of murder and presentation of a firearm during commission of a felony.
However, defense attorney Tom Dyer had requested and been granted a brief postponement earlier this year.
Harrison Circuit Judge Thomas A. Bedell has presided over several homicide trials over the course of his 32-year career on the bench. Because he's retiring Dec. 31, the trial of murder suspect Ulices Alexander Pineda, set for July, could be Bedell's last.
Staff photo by Matt Harvey
That, in turn, led to Harrison Prosecutor Rachel Romano coming before Circuit Judge Thomas A. Bedell on Tuesday seeking her own continuance.
An expert firearms and toolmark witness who would have been available couldn’t make it following the defense’s postponement, Romano told the court.
Prosecutor Rachel Romano sought a continuance of the trial of Ulices Alexander Pineda, citing the inability of an expert witness to make the scheduled date.
Staff photo by Matt Harvey
Defense attorney Tom Dyer didn’t object to the prosecution’s request.
Bedell, citing the right of both sides to have a fair proceeding, rescheduled the trial to the week of July 15. He set a pretrial conference earlier in July.
Pineda has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent.
He is accused in the homicide last June 13 of David Matthew “Matsy” Mazza, 46, of Clarksburg.
Law enforcement alleges that surveillance video shows Pineda shooting Mazza from behind, including at close range while standing over the victim after he fell violently to the ground.
Mazza was shot four times, according to the criminal complaint filed by Clarksburg Police Detective Sgt. William “Bill” Swiger.
Mazza died the same day at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center.
No motive has been released by authorities. Neither man lived in the vicinity of the shooting.
Mazza
Picasa
While serving a search warrant at Pineda’s 720 James St., Apartment D, address in Bridgeport in connection with Mazza’s homicide, officers found a .40 caliber pistol and a .22 LR revolver, as well as ammunition, inside a safe, according to a Greater Harrison Drug Task Force agent.
Pineda has a 2005 felony drug conviction in Illinois that precludes him from firearm possession, the task force agent alleges.
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