Attorney for man accused of murder withdraws from case

NORTH HAVERHILL, N.H. (AP) - The defense attorney for a New Hampshire man who pleaded guilty to murder withdrew from the case.

In a hearing on Tuesday, Grafton Superior Court Judge Lawrence MacLeod approved Caroline Brown’s motion to withdraw from Damion Yeargle’s case, the Caledonian Record reported.

Brown filed a motion on Nov. 27 to withdraw under the state’s Rule of Professional Conduct for attorneys, citing Yeargle’s unwillingness to help his own case.

Brown wrote she “cannot continue to effectively represent Mr. Yeargle without his willingness to fulfill certain requests and obligations needed for preparation of this case.”

Yeargle pleaded guilty in 2018 in connection to the May 2017 killing of 22-year-old Robert Pierog outside of the victim’s home. Prosecutors said the killing was in retaliation for Pierog being an informant for Bethlehem police.

MacLeod also dismissed Yeargle’s motion for ineffective assistance of counsel after the defendant argued his previous counsel who negotiated his 2018 pleas of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder was inadequate in his defense.