Wellsville murder suspect to face jury trial April 8
LISBON — A Steubenville man charged with aggravated murder and other charges related to the Sept. 9, 2024 shooting death of 30-year-old Robert E. Herron will face a jury trial at 9 a.m. April 8.
Jeno Wall, 34, appeared before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton for a pretrial Friday afternoon, accompanied by one of his defense attorneys, James Wise, who was appointed to the case along with defense attorney Joe King.
Wall signed a time waiver of the try-by time, which fell in March, giving his defense team more time to prepare.
A final status hearing was set for 11:20 a.m. March 31.
The prosecution was represented by county Assistant Prosecutors Tammie Riley Jones and Chris Weeda.
Bickerton told Wall that no discovery had been received yet by his attorneys, but after seeing the evidence, his attorneys may be filing motions on his behalf.
Charges against Wall include unclassified felonies of aggravated murder and murder and third-degree felony intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case, along with firearm specifications for allegedly using a firearm to cause Herron’s death.
According to county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of aggravated murder. He could face a mandatory three years for each of the two firearm specifications.
For the aggravated murder count, the indictment alleges that Wall “did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the death of another, to wit: Robert E. Herron.” The murder count alleges that he purposely caused the death.
Abruzzino said previously that the intimidation charge stems from alleged actions by Wall following the shooting.
Wall remains in custody at the county jail with his bond remaining at $1 million cash or surety.
A press release issued by Abruzzino and Wellsville Police Chief Ed Wilson when the indictment was issued in December said, “Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, 2024, officers from the Wellsville Police Department responded to a call of possible shots fired on Tenth Street. Officers found Herron fatally wounded behind a residential garage.”
Members of Herron’s family attended the brief pre-trial hearing.
mgreier@mojonews.com