Hardy case delayed
By Andy Gates - Argus Observer
Sunday, April 8, 2007 12:57 AM PDT
VALE - An Ontario man charged with attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend’s sister in February was scheduled to enter a plea Friday, but for the second time in three weeks, his attorney asked for more time, and the hearing was pushed forward to May.
Christopher Scott Hardy turned 39 in the Malheur County Jail March 20 — which is where he has been staying since he was arrested Feb. 13 and charged with attempted murder and burglary.
The arrest was in connection to an attack that occurred four hours earlier against Jill Joyce, 33, at her residence situated on Foothill Drive just outside Ontario.
An armed intruder went to the residence, police said, and entered the home — then a struggle ensued over the firearm and Joyce was able to discharge all of the ammunition and escape.
Joyce ran on foot to her father’s nearby home on Foothill Drive, her father Dick Warrington said, which is when police were called.
However, a deputy did not arrive at the home to aid Joyce for more than an hour after county dispatch received the call.
Authorities have not released a motive or police reports for the alleged attack; however, Joyce’s family members said in February the alleged attack may have been connected to a recent break-up between Hardy and Joyce’s sister.
Joyce sat in the court Friday while Hardy’s attorney, J. Robert Moon, told Malheur County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Sullivan that he needed more time to review evidence in the case before Hardy could plea.
That request was granted by the court Friday and a plea hearing for Hardy was set for the third time for May 9.
Moon had told the court March 15, during a conditional appearance on Hardy’s behalf, that he needed more time to plea because Hardy’s check for attorney services had not cleared yet.
That request had been granted, and the plea hearing was reset for the second time to Friday.
Law enforcement officials have refused to discuss evidence in the case, other than a shotgun that was allegedly emptied during the incident. However, at least six pieces of evidence in the case were requested by Moon Thursday, court records show, so they could be sent to a forensic expert for the defense and analyzed. That evidence includes duct tape, gloves, shotgun shells, a 20 gauge shotgun and a 9 mm pistol, according to a motion from Moon filed in Malheur County Circuit Court. Hardy was indicted in connection to the incident on more than 20 felony and misdemeanor charges in February by a grand jury in Malheur County Circuit Court.
Those charges included: attempted murder, six counts of burglary, seven counts of felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, theft, possession of cocaine, menacing and fourth degree assault and harassment, court records show.
However, one of the individuals involved in Hardy’s secret grand jury hearing worked at an Ontario coffee shop and she told police she knew Hardy because he was a regular customer, according to an Ontario Police Department report filed in Malheur County Circuit Court.
The woman told Ontario police Hardy went to her residence two times in August 2006, “but there was no kind of a relationship between them.” The woman also told police she, “didn’t feel comfortable with him.”
Even so, the woman indicated to police that she did not feel there would be any conflict with her being on the jury because “there was nothing (relationship) between her and Hardy,” according to the police report.
This type of a situation would not normally affect a case, Malheur County Deputy District Attorney Erin Landis said.
In small communities, Landis said, much of the population is often acquainted, and if potential jurors feel their relationships makes them biased they are asked to tell the court.
Hardy is being held at the Malheur County Jail on $191,000 cash bail.
