CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County District Attorney, William A. Shaw, Jr., announced today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rendered a decision which affirmed the murder conviction of Timothy Hanson.
The underlying facts of Hanson’s case were that on December 24, 1987, Hanson shot and killed David Smith at the Hanson residence in Philipsburg. At the time of the shooting Hanson was on the run from a juvenile facility. Hanson was convicted of criminal homicide after a jury trial on June 24, 1988, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Following his conviction, Hanson filed multiple appeals.
After two sets of appeals through the Pennsylvania Superior Court, an appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, Hanson had exhausted all possible state court remedies and filed an appeal in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Hanson’s appeal to the Federal District Court was denied on Sept. 12, 2008, and Hanson filed an appeal in the Federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral argument was held before the Third Circuit on Hanson’s appeal on Oct. 20, 2010, and both Hanson and the Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office submitted briefs. Thereafter, the Third Circuit affirmed the decision of the Federal District Court, and denied Hanson’s appeal.
The Third Circuit Court’s denial of Hanson’s appeal brings a likely end to what has been an over-20-year appeal process. Shaw stated that the District Attorney’s Office has been litigating this case for many years, and he is pleased with the decision of the federal appellate court. Shaw stated that victims deserve closure in these types of cases, and he believes that Hanson has now exhausted all available appeals.
Anyone with knowledge of a fugitive’s location is asked to call Clearfield County Crimestoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crimestoppers are confidential. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site and selecting “Report A Crime”.
