RED ONION INMATE CHANGES PLEA

Friday, September 3, 2010
by Roger Epperson

A RED ONION STATE PRISON INMATE WHO ADMITTED TO KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND ALLEGEDLY ADMITTED TO KILLING A THIRD HAS NOW PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ONE OF THE MURDERS. 40 YEAR OLD ROBERT GLEASON, JR. WITHDREW HIS PREVIOUS GUILTY PLEA IN THE DEATH OF HIS FORMER WALLENS RIDGE STATE PRISON CELLMATE. HE ASKED FOR A JURY TRIAL THAT IS TENTATIVELY SET TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 21ST, 2011. IF CONVICTED, GLEASON FACES THE DEATH PENALTY OR LIFE IN PRISON. HE WAS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE IN AMHERST COUNTY WHEN HE ALLEGEDLY STRANGLED CELLMATE HARVEY WATSON TO DEATH LAST YEAR. MEANWHILE, HE ALSO ALLEGEDLY STRANGLED INMATE AARON COOPER TO DEATH WITH A NOOSE MADE FROM RIPPED BEDSHEETS.