Williamsport, Pa. — The alleged co-conspirator in a 2023 homicide appeared in court today.
Davon Tamel Grissom assisted Benjamin Villanueva in kidnapping, robbing, and ultimately murdering Jermaine Mullen, according to Williamsport police.
Nearly half of the charges filed against Grissom were instantly thrown out due to the statute of limitations. Investigators and prosecutors conceded to the defense as Judge Christian Frey dismissed three of the ten charges.
Frey also dismissed an illegal possession of a gun charge after prosecutors did not present any evidence linking Grissom to a gun, despite initially charging him for it. That argument was not contested by prosecutors, who again conceded to the defense.
Grissom is still facing second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery to inflict serious bodily injury, robbery under threat, kidnapping in commission of a felony, and kidnapping to cause terror. Frey made no adjustments to Grissom’s bail, which remained denied due to the charge.
According to the prosecution’s theory, Grissom helped tie Mullen up with his own shoe lace before forcing him into the trunk of his own car. At some point, Mullen was able to pull an emergency latch and get out of the vehicle. Villanueva, who has been convicted of the murder, but not robbery, chased Mullen down and shot him multiple times in the face and upper body.
No money or gun was ever found by the Williamsport police, who were the lead investigators on the case.
Grissom’s defense called the case “thin at best” during their arguments. Prosecutors relied on six witnesses, videos, photos, and forensic reports to help bound six of the 10 counts over for trial.
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