MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — One of two men accused of trying to have a Jefferson County delegate killed and his home burned down in 2014 will head to trial after rejecting a plea agreement Tuesday.
Darryl Palmer, 50, had agreed to enter an Alford plea to one count of solicitation to commit murder, but his attorney told the judge Palmer did not wish to enter the plea agreement “as structured”.
Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said a status conference has been scheduled at which time Palmer’s retained counsel will leave the case.
“There’s going to be another lawyer,” Games-Neely said. “We’ll have new trial dates.”
Palmer and his son, Matthew Palmer, 22, were indicted in February on single counts of first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson and solicitation to commit the murder of Del. Stephen Skinner (D-Jefferson).
Darryl Palmer would have been allowed to serve probation instead of a prison sentence of had he entered the plea.
A jury found Matthew Palmer not guilty of the solicitation charge in October, but could not reach a verdict on the other two counts.
His new trial date was set for Dec. 8.