BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Bucks County judge has denied the request for a new trial by the man serving a life sentence for killing three men with his cousin on a Solebury Township farm in 2017.
It didn’t take long for Bucks County Judge Jeffrey Finley to issue a ruling denying Sean Kratz’s claims of ineffective counsel. Kratz was convicted in 2019 of first-degree murder and two counts of voluntary manslaughter for killing Dean Finicchairo, and helping his cousin, Cosmo DiNardo, kill Tom Meo and Mark Sturgis.
Finley sentenced Kratz to life plus 18-36 years in prison. DiNardo pleaded guilty to the murders and is serving a life sentence.
At the Wednesday hearing, Kratz took the stand and testified that his lawyer at the time, Craig Penglase, didn’t properly explain the prosecutors’ plea deal — specifically that it carried a minimum sentence of 59 years in prison. Kratz sat for a videotaped confession as part of the offer.
Kratz backed out of the guilty plea at the last minute, but the confession was played at trial, where he was found guilty.
Penglase testified he discussed the plea several times with Kratz. He said he explained how it would protect him from death row or a life sentence, and walked Kratz through a document confirming the 59-year sentence that he signed before he gave his confession.
The confession was ruled admissible in pre-trial hearings, which was later upheld by Pennsylvania Superior Court. Kratz can appeal Finley’s latest ruling to Superior Court.