GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC Teenager pleads guilty in death of counselor

Anthony Machicote said his roommate was aware of the escape plot.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- A teen's guilty plea in the murder of a George Junior Republic security counselor has prompted authorities to take another look at a key witness in the case.
Anthony Machicote, 18, of North Versailles, Pa., pleaded guilty Wednesday in Mercer County Common Pleas Court to second-degree murder in the Nov. 10, 2003, death of Wayne Urey Jr., 43, who was attacked by Machicote and Jeremy Melvin, 17, of McKeesport, during an escape from the institution.
George Junior is a detention and education facility for male juveniles.
During questioning by Timothy Bonner, a county assistant district attorney, Machicote said a third juvenile being held at George Junior at the time also was aware of the escape plan.
Machicote said his roommate in the residential cottage on campus, Jermaine Brown, agreed to keep quiet about the escape until Machicote and Melvin had fled the institution.
Brown, 15 at the time, was a key witness against the two other teens at a preliminary hearing in December 2003.
Unaware of parts of plan
Machicote said that although Brown knew of the escape plan, he didn't know it involved an attack on Urey nor did he plan to escape as well.
Bonner said later his office will re-examine Brown's role to determine if any charges are warranted against him. The teenager, who came from Philadelphia, is no longer at George Junior, Bonner said.
Melvin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case Oct. 19.
Machicote admitted that he and Melvin hatched the escape plot. He feigned illness to get Urey to come to his room shortly after 12 a.m. Nov. 10.
While Urey was distracted, Melvin jumped him from behind, putting him in a choke hold in an effort to knock him out.
An autopsy showed the attack left Urey with a fractured bone in his neck that impeded his breathing.
Machicote said that while he tied Urey's hands and legs with bed sheets, Melvin stuffed socks in Urey's mouth and wrapped a sheet around his head to keep the socks in place.
The autopsy showed Urey died of asphyxiation consistent with suffocation and strangulation. He also suffered multiple rib fractures and injuries to his head, trunk and extremities.
Machicote said he and Melvin then stole money from Urey and took his truck keys. They drove to Pittsburgh and surrendered later in the day after learning Urey was dead.
Plea deal
In exchange for the guilty plea, the district attorney dropped charges of robbery, theft, conspiracy, aggravated assault and escape.
In addition, District Attorney James Epstein agreed to send Machicote's attorney a letter in 18 months promising not to oppose any effort by Machicote to win a governor's commutation of his prison sentence, provided that he not seek commutation for at least 25 years and commit no further crimes or break prison rules.
The sentence for second-degree murder is mandatory life imprisonment without parole. Judge Thomas Dobson set sentencing for Jan. 6.
Wayne Urey Sr. was among Urey family members in the courtroom and said later that the teens "are getting what they deserved."
"Of course, they should have gotten more," he added.