Uniontown man pleads guilty for role in father’s murder
A Fayette County man accused of taking part in the killing of his own father agreed to plead guilty after cooperating with police against the man who fired the shots.
Robert D. Cumberland Jr., 20, of 118 Pittsburgh St., Uniontown, allowed Daniel B. Manchas III to use his gun in a drive-by shooting at a home on Banning Road in Perry Township, according to investigators.
George Simon, who lived in the mobile home, had shorted Manchas in a deal to buy a small amount of crack cocaine, police said.
In the drive-by, Robert Cumberland Sr., a friend of Simon, was struck in the head by a single shot fired by Manchas.
Manchas was convicted of first-degree murder with the cooperation of the victim’s son.
“Mr. Cumberland was the key witness in the case,” Assistant District Attorney Phyllis Jin told Fayette County President Judge Gerald R. Solomon.
Cumberland pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit third-degree murder in exchange for a six- to 12-year sentence. However, he said he had no intention of killing anyone.
Cumberland told Franks he believed Manchas was going to shoot Simon’s dogs in an effort to scare him.
Cumberland will be sentenced by Franks within 90 days.
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