Crissman Trial Begins with Multiple Testimonies

 

by Jonathan Weaver

The trial for a former Templeton man who escaped from the Armstrong County Jail and allegedly killed a woman began yesterday at the Armstrong County Courthouse.

Robert Crissman, 38, is accused of seven felony charges following his July 30, 2015 escape from the Rayburn Township facility – including criminal homicide in the death of Crissman’s friend, Tammy Long.

Long’s boyfriend, Terry Slagle, was one of 10 people that testified after being called to the stand by County District Attorney Scott Andreassi and Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Charlton yesterday.

Slagle, who was Long’s companion for almost 18 years, learned about Crissman’s arrival when he was getting ready for work early that morning – when Long told him “Robbie” was having car trouble.

Little did he know after he allowed “Robbie” to use his phone, drink a cup of coffee and have a cigarette, “Robbie” was going to strangle his girlfriend with a shoelace and steal a 22-inch Magnum rifle, a 55-inch television and his burgundy pick-up truck while Slagle was installing carpet in Clymer (Indiana County).

The couple did also not know about Crissman’s incarceration after being a self-described heroin addict.

Slagle frantically tried to reach out to “Tam” when the Clymer homeowner reported the jail escape to Slagle and his brother early that afternoon, and even bought a phone card to call several more times on the way home.

“I found (Long) dead on the bathroom floor,” Slagle testified.

A neighbor later testified that she heard Slagle screaming in the driveway that afternoon as neighbors came to his aid.

Slagle didn’t want to see a crime scene photograph of Long’s murder scene, shielding his face while Charlton tried to confirm where he found Long.

It was a few days later after he returned to the Rayburn Township home – only half-a-mile from the jail – that he found the black Nike high-top tennis shoes Crissman wore into the house near the front doorway.

Slagle instantly took them outside and called police.

Of the other nine people that took the stand Tuesday was Jail Deputy Warden Matt Roofner to describe Crissman’s escape at about 6:28AM, the inmate in Crissman’s cell that previously lent Crissman the black tennis shoes for tray duty and Long’s 14-year-old granddaughter who was supposed to be picked up for cheerleading practice the morning of her grandmother’s death.

County President Judge Kenneth Valasek and jurors heard testimony until after 4PM yesterday afternoon and asked them not to make a final determination before the end of the proceedings.

Judge Valasek defined each charge for jurors before he heard opening arguments from both Assistant District Attorney Charlton and Crissman’s public defender Chuck Pascal.

Charlton said the District Attorney’s office subpoenaed about 20 people to testify before the six-man, six-woman jury during the course of the trial to prove the extent of Crissman’s felony charges.

She used the adage “You can run, but you can’t hide” in her opening argument while Crissman sat in a black suit about 20 feet away.

Pascal and Public Defender Preston Younkins contended that while Long’s death was a “sad and tragic event,” jurors are responsible to keep a fair and open mind to evaluate all facts and assess to what degree Crissman is responsible.

“Don’t let your emotion get in the way of your job,” Pascal said to jurors.

Following yesterday’s testimonies, Pascal said yesterday was “uneventful” and meant to establish a timeline of the July 30 events.

Day Two of the trial begins this morning in Kittanning.

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