The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

December 24, 2009

UPDATE: Swogger, 23, headed to court on drug charges after shooting death

By Courtney L. Anderson

SHARON — SHARON

By Courtney L. Anderson

Herald Staff Writer



One of three men who were armed passengers in a van a group tried to rob Nov. 6, resulting in the shooting death of a Sharon teen, is headed to court on drug charges.

Christopher L. Swogger, 23, of Sharon, is charged with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance for his role in the drug deal gone wrong and ensuing gunfire that killed John B. Hosey III, 18, of 422 Meek St., Sharon.

Swogger stipulated that charge to court during a preliminary hearing Wednesday morning before District Judge Dennis M. Songer, Sharon. That means he acknowledged that had there been testimony sufficient evidence would have been presented for the judge to bind the charges over to Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Swogger is accused of trying to buy a pound of marijuana for $1,500 early Nov. 6 in the 800 block of Wallis Avenue.

John Dunder, 22, of 100 Ridge Ave. Apartment 6, Sharpsville, is also charged with drug conspiracy in the case. Swogger’s girlfriend contacted Ashley McNulty, 20, and her husband Mark, 21, about getting the drugs and Mrs. McNulty’s friend’s boyfriend, Alexander N. Lee, 28, of 26 Shenango Blvd., Farrell, is accused of setting up the deal and helping to plan a robbery of the group.

Lee is also charged with robbery and second-degree murder for his role in the incident. Three other men are also charged for surrounding the van that night along with Hosey, court documents said.

Toney A. Bonner II, 20, of 677 Baldwin Ave., Sharon, Rashod M. Brown, 30, of Warren, Ohio, and Raymond L. Raver Sr., 28, of 813 Spearman Ave., Farrell, all had charges of murder and robbery held to court last week.

Raver is also charged with aggravated assault for firing a shotgun at the van that night. The McNultys both suffered superficial gunshot wounds.

No one has been charged with firing the shots that killed Hosey. McNulty testified that he and Dunder each had a handgun that night and Swogger had two. He said he didn’t fire his weapon but other shots were fired from inside the van.

Hosey’s brother Terry J. Greene, 28, of 833 Wallis Ave., Sharon, testified last week that he tried to talk the group out of doing the robbery and that he remained inside his home after setting up the drug delivery. He also said he did not have a full pound of marijuana to sell Swogger.

Anyone who is an accomplice in committing a felony robbery can be held responsible if someone dies as a result of the crime. Taking part in a drug deal does not make someone eligible for the felony murder charge, Kochems has said.

Bonner, Brown, Greene, Lee, Raver and McNulty are being held in Mercer County Jail. Swogger is currently lodged in Lawrence County Jail.

Greene recently waived a charge of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance to court and a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery was withdrawn.

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