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The original item was published from 4/24/2019 11:26:01 AM to 9/7/2019 5:05:03 PM.

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District Attorney

Posted on: April 24, 2019

[ARCHIVED] ‘Wholly Frivolous’ Appeal from Killer of Disabled Brothers Denied by Pa. Court

JuanCristo-Munoz2019

A man‘s request for relief from consecutive life sentences for killing a pair of disabled brothers is “wholly frivolous,” a state appellate court has ruled.

Juan Cristo-Munoz pleaded guilty last year to two counts of first-degree murder and related charges regarding a home-invasion and subsequent killings of Richard Walton and Leroy Kinsey at a Lancaster city home.

Cristo-Munoz, 20, is asking for relief, claiming improprieties at his plea/sentencing hearing.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court denied that request, writing in a 10-page opinion, that Cristo-Munoz’s “appeal is in fact wholly frivolous.”

Cristo-Munoz and an accomplice, Joshua Proper, repeatedly stabbed the disabled men. Kinsey was stabbed at least 10 times; Walton was stabbed 54 times.

Police and prosecutors determined Cristo-Munoz was involved in killing both men; Proper did not attack Walton.

Proper is serving a life sentence.

Cristo-Munoz argued:

- He was not provided an opportunity to speak at sentencing. The appellate court cited a transcript of the hearing that showed he was.

- The facts of the case were recited inaccurately. In court, Cristo-Munoz said he agreed with the facts as they were read.

- Cristo-Munoz was insulted when a prosecutor called him a “monster.” The statement had no impact on the sentence, the appellate court stated.

- Cristo-Munoz was mistreated at Lancaster County Prison. Such a claim is not relevant to the sentence imposed, the state court ruled.

Lancaster city police Detective Eric McCrady filed charges.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright

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