10-03-2025
Hazleton homicide trial continued due to alleged witness interference
Mar. 10—WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough continued the Hazleton homicide trial of Frangel Garcia Andujar due to a recently launched investigation of alleged intimidation of witnesses.
During an emergency motion's hearing Monday, Assistant District Attorney James L. McMonagle requested Andujar's trial be postponed as translation of approximately 140 jailhouse phone calls need to be reviewed.
McMonagle said there is a strong belief Andujar, 23, called witnesses in the case and had his girlfriend contact witnesses. Several phone calls Andujar made from the county correctional facility have been translated from Spanish to English but McMonagle said there are many more calls that need to be transcribed.
McMonagle said MAGLOCLEN (Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network) is assisting in the translation of Andujar's phone calls.
Andujar's attorneys, Lawrence Kansky and James J. Scanlon, opposed a continuance of the trial, which was scheduled to begin March 24.
"We have been prepared for trial and oppose any continuance," Kansky said.
Vough granted McMonagle's request to continue Andujar's trial until June.
McMonagle said there remains the possibility Andujar and others may be charged with intimidation of witnesses depending on a review of Andujar's recorded phone calls.
Hazleton police and county detectives charged Andujar with fatally shooting Stanley Jimson, 17, and injuring four others during a party at a house on South Wyoming Street on March 6, 2022.
The case has involved contentious court proceedings, including Andujar's preliminary hearing held in May 2022, when two people were ejected from the courtroom, a witness calling an attorney "stupid," a perceived threat toward a witness, and another witness allegedly displaying gang signs from the witness stand.
Andujar remains jailed without bail on charges of criminal homicide, criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide, eight counts of aggravated assault and four counts of reckless endangerment.
As Andujar's trial was continued at the request of prosecutors, Kansky and Scanlon have the option to file a motion to dismiss the entire homicide case under Pennsylvania's speedy trial rule.
