Published: January 26, 2009 11:41 pm      

City man admits to murder

EBENSBURG — Norris Collins of Johnstown, after previously rejecting a plea bargain in a homicide case, ended up pleading guilty to third-degree murder in the fatal shooting.

Collins also pleaded guilty Monday to two unrelated drug delivery charges.

Collins, 19, was sentenced immediately to 17 to 39 years in state prison by Judge Gerard Long.

The murder plea came as 100 prospective jurors were waiting for jury selection for separate trials in the two drug cases, in which Collins is accused of selling crack cocaine to informants. The homicide case had been set for trial in April.

Collins was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 27-year-old Cortez Jordan of Ferndale on April 27 outside the Solomon Homes in Johnstown.

Collins fled, but was apprehended May 1 in Pittsburgh.

He had a friend bury the murder weapon – a .357-Magnum handgun – and spent cartridges along with baggies of crack cocaine. The items eventually were recovered by Johnstown police.

Members of the victim’s family – who were unable to make it to the courtroom for the plea and sentencing – expressed bitterness about Jordan’s killing. Their comments came via unusual telephone conference calls heard in the courtroom.

Lanny Sidney, the victim’s father, told the judge: “He (Collins) took my oldest son from me, and I’m very deeply hurt and can’t get over it.”

Saying that he knew Collins for most of his life, the father said he was puzzled about why Collins “did that to somebody pretty much family. ... I hope this comes back to haunt you (Collins). God’s going to make sure you answer to that.”

Heather Crotzer, the victim’s girlfriend who has two children by Jordan, was angry about the plea bargain, saying the plea should be to first-degree murder.

“You killed a great person,” Crotzer said. “I hope you rot in prison. I know God will punish you for this. You took two babies’ father away, not for 17 to 39 years, but forever. I hate you for that.”

Cynthia Jordan, the victim’s mother, said that the killing had been done in “cold blood.”

Witnesses said that Jordan – as he got out of his vehicle to check on his sister at the Solomon Homes – was shot twice by Collins.

Both the mother and Crotzer expressed displeasure that the sentencing wasn’t delayed so that they could face Collins in the courtroom. The judge said that the sentencing was done immediately because the trials were set to begin.

Collins, who briefly mentioned being sorry, had rejected a plea bargain offered in early January.

The earlier plea bargain did not carry a recommended sentence.

Defense Attorney David Beyer said, “After numerous and lengthy discussions,

Mr. Collins decided to enter the plea. With the plea, there’s light at the end of the tunnel because he’ll not be in prison for the rest of his life. He’ll still be relatively young when he gets out.”

But District Attorney Patrick Kiniry said that because the sentences will run consecutively, Collins will spend “most of his productive years in jail.”

When it comes time for a possible parole from prison, the state parole board would take into consideration that Collins is a convicted murderer with three drug convictions, Kiniry said.

In addition to the two drug cases set for trial Monday, Collins has one other drug conviction.