SOUTHWEST OHIO Man accused in shooting meets with new lawyer

The man would not work with his former court-appointed counsel.
HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) -- The man accused of killing two people and wounding three others at a suburban Cincinnati truck terminal last month is said to be cooperating with his new lawyer.
Middletown attorney Chris Pagan said he met with Tom West on Tuesday. "He was cooperative," Pagan said. "I told him how I was going to handle the case, and about what his expectations were. We agreed we had a big job ahead of us and we agreed to work together to get things done."
West, 50, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder and four counts of attempted aggravated murder. He had refused to cooperate with his former court-appointed counsel, Greg Howard, prompting Howard to step down.
West had repeatedly asked to be allowed to represent himself and complained that Howard did not consult with him before entering a plea of innocent by reason of insanity.
Pagan and co-counsel, Noah Powers, also of Middletown, met with West for about an hour at the Butler County jail but did not discuss the allegations against West or whether the insanity plea will stand, Pagan said.
About the case
Witnesses have said that West walked into the Watkins Motor Lines Inc. office in West Chester on Nov. 6 and started shooting. Donald Haury, 50, of Bellbrook, and Bob Lines, 65, of Springfield Township, were killed. Glen Brierly, 48, of Hamilton, Gary Fissel, 50, of Huntersville, N.C., and Billy F. Claywell, 48, of Cave City, Ky., were wounded.
West, also known by his birth name of Joseph John Eschenbrenner III, had worked as a trucker based in Watkins' Atlanta office until 2001. Police said they don't believe he knew the victims at the West Chester hub.
West's father has said that West had a grudge against the company because he believed that co-workers harassed him for crashing a truck.
Last week, West was found competent to stand trial. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7 in Butler County Common Pleas Court. Because of the attorney switch, his May 10 trial date likely will be postponed until July.