Jurors acquit father of man accused of killing New Kensington cop in assault, witness intimidation case

The father of a man accused of killing a New Kensington police officer said he felt betrayed when his girlfriend told police about his son's last-known whereabouts and reported that he had confessed to the murder.

Gregory Baucum, 47, testified Friday during the second day of his trial that he never attacked and choked his girlfriend, as she claimed. Rather, he was trying to persuade her to have sex, he told jurors.

A Westmoreland County jury deliberated for a little more than an hour Friday before acquitting Baucum of all charges — strangulation, simple assault, two counts of retaliation against a witness and witness intimidation.

Baucum was to be released Friday night from Westmoreland County Prison.

As he was led from the courthouse after his not-guilty finding, Baucum said the charges against him were a misunderstanding and expressed love for his son.

“Keep your head up,” he said.

The prosecution contended the assault came after Baucum learned his girlfriend cooperated with police during the manhunt for Rahmael Sol Holt, who is accused of fatally shooting Officer Brian Shaw on a New Kensington street after a traffic stop Nov. 17.

Holt, 30, of Harrison, Allegheny County, is awaiting trial for first-degree murder. He could face the death penalty, if convicted.

Baucum, Holt's estranged father, was the lone witness to testify for the defense in his trial and said he was frustrated that Stacy Myers, his girlfriend of two years, never told him that she cooperated with the investigation.

“I was disappointed she denied it, but I let it go after that,” Baucum testified.

Myers contended that she initially told police that Baucum learned that Holt met with his mother in Pittsburgh hours after the shooting and that during that visit, Holt confessed to shooting Shaw.

Under questioning from Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli, Baucum conceded that he at first denied having any information about his son's whereabouts, but eventually confirmed part of what Myers told police — only after investigators confronted him with her statement.

Myers told jurors she awoke the next morning with Baucum's hands on her neck as he twisted it. A day later, Myers said she was awakened again by Baucum as he pinched her nose closed and covered her mouth.

Baucum told jurors both actions were an effort to entice Myers to have sex.

“I was massaging her neck. I wasn't trying to hurt her,” Baucum testified.

Myers confirmed they had sexual relations after the second incident, but said she did so only to convince him there was no problem between them.

“She did what she had to do to stay safe in that situation,” Iannamorelli told jurors during his closing argument.

He said Baucum deliberately attempted to silence Myers for talking to police.

Defense attorney Jim Fox argued Baucum had no reason to retaliate against Myers because she was not a witness against his son. Fox said Baucum attempted as best he could to cooperate with police and that Myers suffered no physical injuries to substantiate her assault claims.

The defense asked jurors to not link Baucum to his son's alleged crimes.

“Don't judge the father for the sins of his son,” Fox said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.