A burglary charge has been dropped from a homicide case in Adams County Court. David Galemore, who was charged with criminal homicide, claimed he was invited to the residence where the incident occurred. The possession with intent to deliver charge was also dismissed. Galemore’s trial is scheduled for January 2024. GettysburgTimes.com reported
A burglary charge was withdrawn from a Conewago Township homicide case in Adams County Court on Monday, according to court documents. The defendant, David Galemore, 22, of Hanover, was originally charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of a teenager in the Village of Midway. The deceased youth was identified as Connor Mays of York, according to Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Francis Dutrow.
Adams County First Assistant District Attorney Robert Bain declined to comment on the case since it is still pending. However, Galemore’s defense attorney, Heather Entwistle Roberts of Entwistle & Roberts, stated that the evidence shared during discovery does not support a burglary charge. She argued that there were electronic messages indicating that Galemore was invited to the residence where the incident occurred. Roberts also mentioned a second case where the police alleged that Galemore was invited to the residence to sell a small amount of marijuana. However, the possession with intent to deliver charge was dismissed at a preliminary hearing last month.
Roberts stated that Galemore has consistently maintained that he was invited to the residence and acted in self-defense. She believes that the dismissal of the possession with intent to deliver charge brings the case closer to the truth of what really transpired that day.
The incident came to the attention of law enforcement when Conewago Township Police Officer Michael Bailey arrived at the residence and found a body just inside the door. The individual appeared to have been shot and was later identified as 17-year-old Connor Mays. According to the affidavit, a 16-year-old male, who claimed he needed help, informed the police about an alleged physical altercation between the deceased and Galemore. The teenager stated that Galemore pulled out a handgun and shot Mays repeatedly. The youth mentioned that he heard someone coming in through the window before the altercation started.
Pennsylvania State Police at Gettysburg took Galemore into custody shortly after the incident. During the initial investigation, it was revealed that Galemore and Mays had been involved in an altercation earlier that morning in Hanover Borough.
An autopsy conducted at Lehigh Valley Hospital determined the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds, ruling it as a homicide.
Galemore’s trial is scheduled for the January 2024 term, and he is currently being held without bail at Adams County Prison.
Roberts emphasized that all criminal defendants should be presumed innocent until proven guilty and expressed concern that defendants often feel tried and convicted before they even reach trial. She stated that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution, and defendants should not be expected to prove their innocence..