A Lancaster County Judge has set bail at $750,000 for a Mountville woman who shot and killed her ex-husband in West Hempfield Township in 2021.

Cherrelle Byrd pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on May 31, 2023, after being initially charged with criminal homicide, a non-bailable offense.

An Evidentiary Hearing was held June 12, 2023, on a Petition for Bail Pursuant to Rule 521.  Assistant District Attorney Janie Swinehart presenting the guilty plea and arguing the offense of voluntary manslaughter still fell under the parameters of a criminal homicide, the fact Byrd shot and killed her paramour intentionally, and that Byrd posed a flight risk since she faces a maximum of 20 years in prison as reasons why bail should not be set.

Under Rule 521 of Pennsylvania’s Rules of Criminal Procedure, a defendant does not have a right to bail before sentencing if a judge makes a finding that:

              -no one or more conditions of bail will reasonably ensure that the defendant will appear and comply with the conditions of the bail bond; or

              -the defendant poses a danger to any other person or to the community or to himself or herself.

Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn wrote in his order submitted on June 13 he was unable to make a finding of either of those requirements and set the current bail conditions:

1. Defendant shall commit no violations of law.
2. Defendant shall have no contact with the family of the victim.
3. If released, Defendant shall be subject to immediate GPS monitoring and otherwise placed under the supervision of the Office of Bail Administration and Pre-Trial Services, subject to all standard requirements and conditions thereof. Defendant shall not leave Lancaster County without prior approval of the Court. Defendant shall report in person to the Office of Bail Administration and Pre-Trial Services no less than once per week.
4. If released, Defendant is prohibited from possessing, using, manufacturing, controlling, selling, or transferring any firearms.
5. If released, Defendant is ordered to immediately relinquish any passport documentation to the Clerk of Courts Office of Lancaster County.
6. If released, Defendant shall immediately provide a current address to the Clerk of Courts Office of Lancaster County and shall notify the Court, Office of the District Attorney, and Office of Bail Administration and Pre-Trial Services within twenty-four hours of any change of address.

Byrd has not posted bail currently and remains in Lancaster County Prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 30.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.