'I can't imagine why you would do this,' judge tells man whose jailhouse threat cost him probation

Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani was moments away from granting leniency to a man who testified against three of his co-defendants in connection with a 2022 fatal shooting in New Kensington.

But the judge abruptly halted a sentencing hearing after learning that the defendant — Raquan Carpenter, 20 — may have threatened a guard with a razor at the county jail during his incarceration there.

“I just want you to know that you were about to get out of jail,” Feliciani told Carpenter. “There are consequences for everything that you do, and today’s consequence is you’re going back to jail.”

Feliciani requested prosecutors gather more details about the threat accusation in preparation for a hearing, in about a month, when he will again consider Carpenter’s sentence.

“In your situation, I can’t imagine why you would do this,” the judge told Carpenter.

Carpenter pleaded guilty in March to a lesser charge of conspiracy in connection with the July 3, 2022, death of Jason Raiford, 39, at the Valley Royal Court apartments.

Prosecutors dismissed homicide, robbery and related charges against Carpenter as part of a plea deal.

He was among seven young men and teens who were charged with homicide.

Raiford was shot 11 times over what prosecutors said was a drug debt. Carpenter testified during a weeklong trial late last year for three men convicted of varying roles in the fatal shooting.

Judge Feliciani was mulling over sentencing Carpenter to a long probation term as requested by Carpenter’s attorney, Brian Aston.

“I was willing to consider that you were the only cooperative defendant in this case,” Feliciani said. “I feel that you should be given credit for that, and I was willing to give you credit.”

Carpenter’s testimony at trial was helpful for jurors to understand what happened during the chaotic moments when Raiford was killed, Assistant District Attorney Leo Ciaramitaro said.

“What he testified to wasn’t necessarily as fully complete as what he provided in the statement to us earlier,” Ciaramitaro said. “I believe the jury viewed what he said in making their decision.”

Aston asked for leniency, adding that Carpenter was homeless at the time of the shooting and staying in New Kensington. He got connected with a caseworker who helped him enroll in school where he earned a high school diploma.

If released from jail, he plans to work through reentry programs, live with his family in Carrick and care for his child born during his incarceration.

“He demonstrates an ability to do the right thing,” Aston argued.

Carpenter wore a yellow jail jumpsuit to court, which denotes a disciplinary action against him. He described the discipline as a result of a situation where he and another inmate got into a fight. He didn’t mention the potential threat.

That came to light later in the hearing when more information was learned by prosecutors about disciplinary actions against Carpenter.

He denied threatening the guard and said the two incidents were separate.

Six others accused in Raiford’s death have had dispositions in their cases.

Amir Kennedy, 16, of New Kensington was convicted by a Westmoreland County jury of first-degree murder. He was sentenced earlier this year to 30 to 60 years in prison.

Elijah Gary, 20, and DaMontae Brooks, 16, both of New Kensington, were on trial with Kennedy and were acquitted of homicide counts.

But Gary was found guilty of robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy counts and sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. And Brooks was convicted of robbery and conspiracy charges and ordered to serve eight to 16 years behind bars.

Braedon Dickinson, 16, of Connellsville was prosecuted as a juvenile and pleaded guilty to third-degree murder.

Prosecutors dismissed homicide charges against Avian Molter, 16, of Pittsburgh and Jonathan Felder, 19, of Arnold.

Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and a weapons offense. Molter was sentenced to two to four years in a state prison followed by five years of probation. Felder was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in a state prison followed by five years of probation.