UPDATE: At the preliminary hearing this morning held at the Indiana County Courthouse, District Judge Chris Welch held all charges against 20-year-old Simere Maurice Alford. That means when he goes to trial, he will face all charges, including the two attempted homicide of police officer charges. No word on when the trial will be held. Alford remains at SCI-Pine Grove to await his trial as bail was denied.
WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED
A preliminary hearing is scheduled this morning for 20-year-old Simere Maurice Alford, the SCI Pine Grove inmate charged with the attempted murder of two state troopers who were transporting him back to prison after a district court hearing in June.
Photo: Philadelphia Police
Alford is charged with 22 criminal offenses, including two first degree counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, seventeen other felonies, and three misdemeanors.
The incident happened June 24th as the two troopers were taking Alford back to prison. He was in the back seat and they were in the front. He managed to free himself of his restraint, reached into the front seat and grabbed the gun of Trooper Jeremy Leasure, who was driving. Alford fired the gun, just missing Leasure’s head. Leasure let go of the steering wheel and reached into the back seat, grabbing the gun as Alford fired a second shot, which hit Alford in the leg and foot.
The unmarked cruiser then crashed into a guardrail and Trooper Allison Goswick got out of the vehicle and opened the rear door as Leasure and Alford wrestled. The gun fell to the ground and Leasure got Alford out of the car and forced him to the ground. Both troopers and Alford were treated and released at Indiana Regional Medical Center, with Trooper Goswick suffering a broken arm in the crash.
Alford is serving thirteen to forty years in prison for the suffocation death of his seven-year-old sister in 2017. His hearing today is at 8:30 AM before District Judge Chris Welch.
