Man Convicted for Intimidating Witness, Awaits Sentencing
LOCK HAVEN – Brimir Akeem Grove, 20, of Drexel Hill, was convicted following a jury trial today on one count of Retaliation against a Witness and one count of Intimidation of Witnesses, both 3rd degree felonies. A Clinton County Jury deliberated approximately one hour before returning a verdict of guilty on both counts.
President Judge Craig P. Miller presided over the one-day trial. The case was prosecuted by Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse, and Scott Pletcher was counsel for Grove.
Grove, was originally arrested on Felony drug offenses on April 19, 2016. Two days after his arrest, on April 21, 2016, he encountered the victim, a Lock Haven University student that Grove believed had acted as a confidential informant and assisted Lock Haven City Police in their investigation of the drug case against Grove. When Grove saw the victim near Evergreen Commons in Lock Haven, Grove began to scream at him from a vehicle, and tried to exit the vehicle while it was still in motion.
Witnesses testified at trial that Grove had to be physically restrained by the driver to keep him from exiting the moving vehicle. The victim became frightened and immediately ran away from Grove. A surveillance video from Evergreen Commons was played for the jury by the prosecution that showed the victim running from a vehicle in which Grove was the passenger, and the victim tripping over bushes in the parking area before he continued to run away. A person, identified as Grove by witnesses, is seen in the video exiting the vehicle after it eventually comes to a stop in the parking lot.
About an hour after the incident at Evergreen Commons, the victim received a series of text messages sent by Grove. The messages included images of knives and messages calling the victim a “rat.” The victim testified that he was fearful for his own safety and thought Grove was after him.
“This case is about protecting witnesses and victims of crimes in Clinton County,” DA Strouse said following trial. “If you are a victim or a witness, we have to be able to assure you that you are safe, your family is safe, and you shouldn’t need to fear retribution from those individuals who are committing crimes in Clinton County. The verdict in this case helps send the message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated by police, the District Attorney’s Office or the Courts,” Strouse added.
Grove now faces up to 14 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on June 19th at 11:00 AM.
