Judge rejects plea deal in North Huntingdon high-speed crash

A Westmoreland County judge Friday rejected a plea deal for a North Huntingdon man accused of driving 90 mph in July 2024 before colliding with another vehicle in a crash that seriously injured the other driver.

Judge Scott Mears said the plea deal arranged for Nolan P. Mullen, 22, would allow him to receive electronic monitoring at home, when the standard sentence for a conviction in such a case would be seven to 10 months in prison. Mears said he understood the victim’s opposition to the deal the prosecution and defense had negotiated.

Mears encouraged the prosecution and defense to reach some resolution to a case that has been scheduled for the July court term. The judge told the parties at a hearing Feb. 11 he needed more time to review the case.

A judge has the right to reject a plea deal if the judge believes it is inconsistent with the interest of justice, Mears said. Under the proposed deal, Mullen would have received a probationary sentence, with the aggravated assault by vehicle charge dismissed. Mullen also was charged in November with misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and summary offenses of careless driving causing serious bodily injury and exceeding the 35 mph speed limit by 55 mph.

Kathleen Morcheid of North Huntingdon was injured in the July 7, 2024, crash along Clay Pike near Indian Lake Park. Mullen’s vehicle was traveling on Clay Pike when Morcheid drove onto the road and was hit as Mullen’s vehicle crossed the center line of the highway, according to police. Morcheid and her son were taken to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for treatment.

Defense attorney Charles Porter said the plea deal had been arranged with the prosecution and was acceptable. Porter said he had not experienced a judge rejecting a plea deal in his 40 years as an attorney.

Morcheid had testified at a Feb. 11 hearing before Mears that she still suffers from the effects of the injuries she sustained in the crash. Morcheid sustained what Mears described as incredibly serious injuries, but Porter questioned whether Morcheid truly suffered serious bodily injuries.

While Mears said he was familiarizing himself with the case by reviewing a diagram of the crash, a Google map of the accident area and the accident reconstruction report from police, Porter claimed the judge’s viewing of evidence gave the appearance of impropriety. Mears said he wanted to review the case because it was thrust upon him in February when Judge Meagan Bilik-Defazio recused herself because of her familiarity with people involved.

Porter said he would file a request seeking that Mears recuse himself from the case because the judge’s statements would lead Mullen and his family to conclude he would not be fair. Mears said he would review the filing.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli Jr. said that victims in the case had given him what they said are additional witness accounts. Iannamorelli said he was not in a position to conduct an investigation and that he believes “the case has been fully investigated.”