Latest development in Dunnstable Township couple’s saga: One sentenced, one claims ineffective counsel
LOCK HAVEN, PA – Husband and wife, William and Candy Jo Laubscher were both in Clinton County Court on Halloween morning in the latest chapter of their joint criminal cases.
The pair was tried and convicted as co-defendants in early June of this year, on charges of terroristic threats, simple assault and firearms charges. The pair then fled the Commonwealth before their July sentencing and were apprehended in the state of North Carolina on July 21. But before the pair could be brought back to Clinton County, they contested extradition in North Carolina, taking the better part of two months and requiring Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse to enlist the help of both Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Governor Roy Cooper in North Carolina.
On Tuesday the Laubschers were scheduled, for the second time, to be sentenced for their crimes. Candy Laubscher appeared first before Judge Michael F. Salisbury along with her attorney Fred Lingle. DA Strouse asked the court to impose an aggravated sentence in the case, and outlined Candy Laubscher’s complete disregard for the law, but even more so, her disregard for the courts, “She simply doesn’t care what this court has to say or what a jury of her peers has to say.” Strouse added, “She still believes she did nothing wrong here. She attacked a young woman for no reason, threatened her life with a gun and terrorized her. And she still thinks she was completely justified in doing so.” Strouse asked for at least 7 years as a maximum sentence. When it was her chance to address the Court, Candy Laubscher said she was sorry that all of this happened, and insisted that she ran to North Carolina because she was scared. She told Salisbury she had never been in trouble like this. Candy Laubscher then claimed she still didn’t understand how she got in so much trouble when “that girl shouldn’t have even been there,” referring to the 19-year-old victim who was sleeping inside the rental unit when the Laubschers forced their way into the residence and fired several shots into the front yard.
Judge Salisbury then briefly addressed Candy Laubscher before imposing sentence, “You continue to claim some kind of government conspiracy in this case and you completely refuse to accept responsibility. Your false version of events is contradicted by the videos and evidence that were admitted at your trial, which clearly show you threatened the victim with a gun while your husband fired several shots from a bayonetted assault rifle.” Salisbury then imposed the maximum sentence permitted, and aggregate term of 144 months on the three offenses, making her parole eligible after 26 months.
A short time later, William Laubscher also appeared before Judge Salisbury for sentencing with his attorney Marc Decker. Decker insisted to the court that he and his client were no longer able to effectively communicate and asked the court to appoint a new attorney to represent Mr. Laubscher. Laubscher then told Judge Salisbury that his attorney was ineffective at trial and didn’t represent him properly. Laubscher also claimed to have additional evidence that should have been offered in his defense. After a short exchange where Laubscher seemingly refused to answer questions posed by the court, Judge Salisbury granted Decker’s motion and appointed a new public defender to Laubscher. Salisbury then continued the sentencing for two additional weeks to allow Laubscher time to meet with his new attorney. For more info on the Laubscher’s June 2023 trial, see the previous story here: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/da/133000/post/dunnstable-township-coup…
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/da/133000/post/latest-development-dunnstable-couples-saga-one-sentenced-one-claims-ineffective
