Rance “Randy” Freeman, Jr., 31, was arraigned Thursday in Chautauqua County Court on a two-count indictment alleging two charges of Murder in the Second Degree.

Johnson was discovered deceased in his Westfield home on November 8, 2008. The Village of Westfield Police Department, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, and the Chautauqua County Forensic Investigation Team responded and began an investigation which led to the indictment of Freeman, nearly 10 years later.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson credited the perseverance of the investigators, adding “My thanks go out to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and Westfield Police for their continued efforts in investigating this case.”

Freeman  entered a plea of not guilty before Chautauqua County Court Judge Stephen Cass. Bail was set at $500,000 cash or $1,000,000 property.

Freeman is due to return to court for the completion of discovery and standard motions on a date yet to be determined.

The charges carry a potential sentence ranging from fifteen years to life up to twenty-five years to life imprisonment. As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Charles Sanford

MAYVILLE – The second man involved in the killing of Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist Mary Whitaker has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison.

On Friday 32 year old Charles Sanford was sentenced in county court for second degree murder.

Sanford and accomplice Jonathan Conklin were arrested in August 2014 following an investigation into the murder of the 61 year-old Whitaker, who was found dead at her home in the town of Westfield, just outside of the village of Sherman, as the result of a burglary.

Both Sanford and Conklin were also sentenced Thursday in federal court for charges related to car-jacking and illegal possession of a firearm – with Sanford being sentenced to 15 years in federal prison while Conklin was sentenced to 25 years.  Conklin was also sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Wednesday in county court on the charge of 2^nd degree murder.

Jonathan Conklin

MAYVILLE – Acting Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson announced Wednesday afternoon that one of the two men involved in the 2014 murder of Mary Whitaker has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison.

Swanson says 45 year-old Jonathan Conklin of Sherman was sentenced by Judge Richard C. Kloch to an indeterminate sentence of at least 25 years in state prison and a maximum of life in prison after being convicted of 2nd degree murder.

Following the sentence, Swanson offered his thanks to the agencies that assisted in the swift capture, and the prosecution of Conklin and his accomplice Charles Sanford.

“For his senseless act, I expect Mr. Conklin to live out the remainder of his days in prison,” Swanson said in a prepared statement. “Mary Whitaker was an amazing woman. No one deserves to exit our world in the manner she did. Our thoughts are with her family and friends as they hopefully can move forward remembering the amazing person she was.”

Swanson also said that this was a case that originated under former District Attorney David Foley, adding that he and the entire DA staff did an amazing job prosecuting this case.

“I know [Foley] would have wanted to thank the Sheriff and the Sheriff’s office for their fast response, the Forensic Investigation Team (F.I.T.) for their efforts at the crime scene, the local FBI branch that we are so fortunate to have here in Chautauqua County, the Erie, Pennsylvania Police department, and the US Attorney’s office headed up by the US Attorney for the Western District of New York, William J. Hochul, Jr.,” Swanson said.

The sentencing is the culmination of the investigation and prosecution connected to the August 2014 death of Mary Whitaker, who was found murdered in her town of Westfield home, located just outside of Sherman.  The murder took place as Conklin and co-defendant Sanford attempted to burglarize Whitaker’s home on Titus road.

Sanford faces 15 years to life in state prison and will appear in county court for his sentencing on Friday.

The two also pleaded guilty to federal charges last fall, connected to the possession of a firearm and carjacking. Each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The pair are also reported to be sentenced for the federal charges in Buffalo on Thursday.

Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

MAYVILLE – One of the two men involved in the 2014 murder of a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in county court.

The Chautauqua County District Attorney’s office says 44 year-old Jonathon Conklin will be sentenced this afternoon in county court on a charge of second-degree murder, related to the August 2014 death of Mary Whitaker, who was found murdered in her town of Westfield home, located just outside of Sherman.  The murder took place as Conklin and co-defendant Charles Sanford attempted to burglarize Whitaker’s home on Titus road.

Conklin and Sanford face a potential 25 years to life and 15 years to life in state prison, respectively. Sanford will appear in county court for his sentencing on Friday.

The two also pleaded guilty to federal charges last fall, connected to the possession of a firearm and carjacking. Each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The pair are also reported to be sentenced for the federal charges in Buffalo on Thursday.

Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

MAYVILLE – The sentencing date for the two men involved in the 2014 murder of a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra has been pushed back.

Chautauqua County district attorney Patrick Swanson says both 31 year-old Charles Sanford and 44 year-old Jonathon Conklin will have their sentencing date rescheduled when they appear in court next Thursday, March 10. The two men reached a plea deal with the D-A’s office regarding the murder of violinist Mary Whitaker in August 2014 at her home just outside of the village of Sherman. The murder took place as the two men attempted to burglarize Whitaker’s home on Titus road.

Sanford was originally scheduled for sentencing yesterday and Conklin was scheduled for sentencing on March 10.

According to a report in the Jamestown Post-Journal, the rescheduling is mostly due to procedural issues, particularly the need to have the defendants’ federal and state sentencing dates closer together.

Both Conklin and Sanford have pleaded guilty in county court to second-degree murder. They face a potential 25 years to life and 15 years to life in state prison, respectively. They also pleaded guilty to federal charges last fall, connected to the possession of a firearm and carjacking. Each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

MAYVILLE – The second of two men connected to the murder of Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist Mary Whitaker has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley says 44 year-old Jonathan Conklin pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday. Conklin’s trial was scheduled to begin in January. He’ll now be sentenced on March 10 in county court and faces 25 years to life in prison.

In October, Conklin also pleaded guilty to carjacking in the U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

In September, the other person involved in the murder – 31 year-old Charles Sanford – also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He will be sentenced on Feb. 29 and faces 15 years to life in state prison.

Conklin and Sanford – who were both from Erie – allegedly went to Whitaker’s summer residence in the town of Westfield during the early morning of Aug. 20, 2014, shooting and stabbing her, and then robbing her home.

After leaving Whitaker for dead and making off with her credit cards and vehicle, the two men returned to Erie. Her body was discovered by a friend later that day. Both Conklin and Sanford were arrested in Erie two days later following an investigation.

Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

BUFFALO – Progress is being made in the prosecution of two men involved in the 2014 home invasion and murder of a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.

On Wednesday 31 year-old Charles Sanford pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He’ll be sentenced in March.

Last month Sanford also pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder in Chautauqua County Court. He’ll be sentenced for that charge in February. As part of the plea deal, Sanford has also reportedly agreed to testify against co-defendant 44 year-old Jonathan Conklin.

Conklin was also in federal court this week and pleaded guilty to a federal carjacking charge, which could result in 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He’ll also be sentenced for that charge in March.

Conklin still faces several state charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, and first-degree criminal use of a firearm. His next appearance in county court is a hearing set for Nov. 19.

Conklin and Sanford – who were both from Erie – allegedly went to Chautauqua Violinist Mary Whitaker’s summer residence in the town of Westfield during the early morning of Aug. 20, 2014, shooting and stabbing her, and then robbing her home.

After leaving Whitaker for dead and making off with her credit cards and vehicle, the two men returned to Erie. Her body was discovered by a friend later that day. Both Conklin and Sanford were arrested in Erie two days later following an investigation.

Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

BUFFALO – The two men accused of killing Mary Whitaker last month in her Westfield summer home have pleaded not guilty to all federal charges during a hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

According to a report in today’s Jamestown Post-Journal, 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin and 30 year-old Charles Sanford pleaded not guilty to federal charges of carjacking, use of a firearm to commit a crime of violence and felon in possession of a firearm.

The three charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The judge has given the U.S. attorney prosecuting the case until Oct. 31 to submit any voluntary discovery material or evidence to the court. The public defenders assigned to the case will then have until Dec. 12 to review the evidence and make any pre-trial motions. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 28, 2015, but that may be pushed up if no motions are filed by the defense.

Charges related to murder have yet to be filed, pending an indictment by a county grand jury.

The two men are accused of showing up at Whitaker’s home in the town of Westifled during the early morning of Aug. 20, shooting and stabbing Whitaker and then robbing her home. After leaving Whitaker for dead and making off with her credit cards and vehicle, the two men returned to Erie. Her body was discovered by a friend later that day. Both Conklin and Sanford were arrested in Erie two days later following an investigation.

Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

BUFFALO – The two homeless men who are accused of killing a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra during a home burglary will be held without bail. That after both 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin and 30 year-old Charles Sanford appeared in Buffalo Federal Court Thursday for a detention hearing on federal charges related to carjacking, using a gun during a violent crime and bringing a stolen vehicle across state line.

According to an article in Friday’s Jamestown Post-Journal, prosecutors used the hearing to provide details into the crime and convince the court that bail should not be given. The two have not yet been formally charged with murder, as a county grand jury is still considering state murder charges.

However, according to today’s report, County Sheriff Joe Gerace has said that both men have confessed to committing the crime against 61 year-old Mary Whitaker, a concert violinist from New York City who spent her summers at Chautauqua Institution and lived off grounds at her home on Titus Rd. in the town of Westfield, just north of the village of Sherman.

The two stand accused of showing up at Whitaker’s home during the early morning of Aug. 20. Conklin hid out of sight while Sanford knocked on her door and when she answered, he claimed that his car had broken down. When Whitaker let him use her cell phone, Conklin is accused of coming out of his hiding spot and shooting Whitaker in the Torso. She was also shot a second time in the leg. Authorities also accuse Sanford of then stabbing Whitaker in the neck. After leaving Whitaker for dead and making off with her credit cards and vehicle, the two men returned to Erie. They were arrested in Erie two days later following an investigation.

Both Conklin and Sanford had previous run-ins with the law. Conklin has been arrested in the past for burglary charges, while Sanford is a convicted sex offender, convicted of statutory sexual assault in 2012.

According to Friday’s article, a preliminary hearing for the federal charges has been scheduled for Sept. 9.

Jonathan Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

MAYVILLE – One of the two men arrested in connection with the shooting death of Mary Whitaker – the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist found dead Aug. 20 inside her Westfield Home – is facing a new charge on an unrelated burglary case that took place earlier this month in Sherman.

Chautauqua County Sheriff Deputies say 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin is accused of entering Murdocks Family Restaurant on Aug. 3 and taking $1,150. He then traveled to Erie to avoid police. On Wednesday, Sheriff deputies charged Conklin with grand larceny in connection to that case. Investigators add that more charges are also possible.

Conklin and 30 year-old Charles Sanford were both arrested in Erie on August 22 for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of the 61 year-old Whitaker. They have since been charged with stealing property, taking it across state lines and carjacking. They were scheduled to reappear in Federal Court in Buffalo Thursday Morning for a detention hearing.

A grand jury is deciding whether or not the two will also be charged with murder in connection to the Whitaker case.

Investigators say the two men tried to rob Whitaker at her Westfield home during the early morning hours of Aug. 20 and ended up shooting and stabbing her to death. At the time of the murder, a warrant was already out for Conklin’s arrest.

Both Conklin and Sanford are currently being held in the Chautauqua County jail without bail.