York, PA - The recorded prison phone call cut off before Hector Morales could finish pleading an unidentified woman to post his $100,000 bail on drug charges.
In an often inaudible recording played in York County court Tuesday, Morales worried his "daughter will be in high school before I get out" if he couldn't post bail before his preliminary hearing.
Morales' bail was posted June 29, 2009. On July 17, 2009, the day of his preliminary hearing, Morales, 28, broke into the York home of the man who set him up for drug agents and shot him to death, according to police.
Morales' capital murder trial continues this week in the York County Judicial Center.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Shawn Wolfe testified Tuesday he and other officers busted Ronald "Country" Simmons Jr., 42, on June 23, 2009, in a drug sting. Using a confidential informant supplied with $130 in recorded bills, officers bought 10 bags of heroin from Simmons.
Wolfe said the informant entered Simmons's North Tremont Street home, Simmons left in his car, returned 15 minutes later with the heroin and was taken into custody.
Facing arrest, Simmons immediately offered to set up "True," the man he bought the heroin from to supply the informant.
Wolfe said, at his direction, Simmons ordered another five bags of heroin from "True."
With drug agents watching, Simmons went to a Route 30 motel. In the parking lot, a man got into Simmons' car and agents moved in. They found Luis Noel Mendez and more than 170 bags of heroin, Wolfe said.
Simmons informed the agents Mendez was not "True," and agents, armed with a description, entered the motel looking for the man. Wolfe said he spotted "True" from a window and agents stopped him as he tried to drive out of the parking lot.
Wolfe said "True," identified as Morales, had the recorded drug money, the original $130 given to Simmons by the informant, in his pockets and wallet.
On cross-examination, Wolfe said he never arrested Simmons on drug charges because "he was found to be deceased prior to me having the opportunity to file charges."
Also Tuesday, state police Lt. Kevin Deskiewicz, a fingerprint analysis supervisor, testified that Morales' right palm print was taken from Simmons' broken back door after the murder.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Karen Comery said she expects to rest her case Wednesday.
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