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BUFFALO---According to published reports, Ralph "Bucky" Phillips is expected to plead guilty Wednesday to killing state trooper Joseph Longobardo and seriously wounding trooper Donald Baker Jr. on Aug. 31 in Chautauqua County.
It has been reported that under a series of agreements, Phillips would remain in prison for the rest of his life in a special "escape-proof" cell.
Phillips, 44, is expected to plead guilty to escaping from the Erie County Jail last April which resulted in him remaining at large for over five months until he was captured near the New York/Pennsylvania border in early September following the state's largest manhunt.
Phillips had used a can opener to escape from the jail and on June 10, he allegedly shot state trooper Shawn Brown in the abdomen after Brown stopped him near Elmira in Chemung County. Phillips had been incarcerated for a minor parole violation and was scheduled to be released with a week. Phillips escaped by prying open a roof vent in the kitchen area of the prison. He has been charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution based on his escape.
Phillips is also a suspect in the shooting death of Trooper Longobardo, 32, and the wounding of Baker Jr., 38, in Cassadaga, Chautauqua County, while the troopers were on surveillance near the home of Phillips' former girlfriend.
Phillips was on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List and had once threatened to "splatter pig meat all over Chautauqua County".
Phillips is also scheduled to appear in Chemung County Court Wednesday to plead guilty to shooting Tpr. Brown and on Thursday, he is expected to plead guilty to the escape charge. He is currently being held in the Chemung County Jail in Elmira.
Although suspected of shooting Longobardo and Baker, Phillips has not been so charged. He has been charged with attempted aggravated murder, first degree attempted murder and second degree attempted murder charges in the Brown shooting.
Phillips also faces federal charges for the alleged burglary of a gun shop and theft of over 40 guns. 11-28-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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