Saturday, June 27th:
*Filing Date Deadline on Post Conviction Petition-CANCELLED! - OH - Sierah Joughin (20) (July 19, 2016, Fulton County) - *James Dean Worley (57) indicted on 2 counts of aggravated murder, abduction & felonious assault; also w/having weapons under a disability, aggravated robbery (dismissed), 4 counts of kidnapping, 1 count of possessing criminal tools, gross abuse of corpse & tampering with evidence. DP case.
Accused of abduction 26 yrs ago.
3/27/18 Jury came back with guilty on all charges. 4/4/18: Jurors unanimous with Death penalty.
4/17/18: Judge Robinson ordered several similar charges merged for sentencing. Worley will be sentenced on one count each of kidnapping, felonious assault, possession of criminal tools, tampering with evidence and having weapons while under disability, and will be sentenced separately on one count of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications.
4/18/18: Judge: Accepts recommendation of jury, death sentenced, execution date June 3, 2019. 6/1/18: Files motion for appeal.
1/30/20: Defendant Worley has until 6/27/20 to file amendments to his post conviction petition, without prejudice or leave of court. The State of Ohio will have until January 25, 2021 to file its response to the post conviction petition. Defendant Worley will have 60 days from the date the State files its response in which to file his reply to the State's response.
1/28/20: Kimberlyn Seccuro's notice of appearance as co-counsel & notice of Kathryn Polonsky's withdrawal as co-counsel filed by attorneys Houston & Swain. 4/9/20: State of Ohio will have until 1/25/21 to file its response to post conviction petition; defendant will have 60 days from the date the State files its response in which to file his reply to State's response.
3/14/20: According to the Ohio Dept. of Health, Ohio’s COVI-19 pandemic will peak around that time or in early May. Courts will continue to scheduled things for their calendars.
4/10/20: Defendant's unopposed motion for an amended scheduling order because of COVID-19 to extend 6/27/20 deadline for filing as defendant was unable to complete his post conviction investigation within the time period.
5/26/20: Filed that public defender will not be back at work until 9/8/20.