A Lancaster man was convicted Tuesday afternoon of shooting toward a man in Ephrata, then attempting to sway the victim’s testimony with a letter from prison.
A Lancaster County jury convicted Omar A. Colon Jr. of felony counts of carrying a firearm without a license and solicitation to commit perjury, and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and reckless endangerment.
Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright convicted Colon of another felony firearms possession count, which the jury could not hear considering the other charges.
Colon, 27, will be sentenced after a background check is completed in about two months.
Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson presented testimony and evidence during the two-day trial that Colon, on Nov. 9, 2015, fired near a male acquaintance of his girlfriend at an Ephrata home, fled, and was arrested a month later.
Colon was prohibited from possessing a weapon due to a prior felony drug conviction.
While at Lancaster County Prison, Colon wrote a letter to his girlfriend, which she was to read to the victim. The letter contained directives including a request that the victim not show up for court or provide false testimony if he does show up.
Colon instructs his girlfriend to burn the letter because “the prosecution would love this.”
Prison officials intercepted the letter and provided to Ephrata police. Anderson presented the letter to jurors along with audio-recorded prison phone calls in which Colon mentions the letter.
The jury deliberated about 90 minutes before reaching a decision Tuesday at 4:45 p.m.
Colon was acquitted of fleeing police and attempted hindering prosecution.
A neighbor near the Ephrata home witnessed the shooting. The victim was standing in front of a garage when the shot was fired. Police recovered a .25-caliber slug near the garage.
Colon is already serving a 2.5-to-5-year prison term for a parole violation regarding separate incidents.
Ephrata police filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright