Update:Erin Allen Robertson has been charged with obstruction of justice after he was accused of threatening to kill his father.
The man at the center of a NewsChannel 3 investigation was handcuffed in court Monday, his bond revoked, after prosecutors told a judge he'd threatened to kill a witness in his case. The witness was his father.
Erin Allen Robertson was scheduled to plead guilty Monday morning to stealing an expensive digital camera from his friend right after his friend was mortally hurt in a car crash. Robertson and the crash that killed Chris Pardee have been the subjects of an ongoing NewsChannel 3 investigation. Diane Pardee, Chris' mother, told NewsChannel 3 the plea deal called for Robertson, who has a history of arrests for drugs and violence, to serve three months in jail.
Robertson was more than an hour late for court. Through a public defender, he told the judge he didn't know he was pleading guilty on Monday, even though his public defender brokered the deal and requested the court date. He asked for a delay and time to hire a private lawyer.
Prosecutors then revealed Robertson had threatened and intimidated his father who agreed to testify against his son. The prosecutor said the intimidation included a death threat. Prosecutors said they didn't file charges at first because Robertson was pleading guilty. But after Monday, a spokeswoman for the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office said the offers have been withdrawn. The new charges will be filed immediately, prosecutors said.
The judge revoked Robertson's bond and he was immediately jailed. He declined NewsChannel 3's request for an interview.
Related:
Attorneys back off request to move Chris Pardee trial
Man accused of stealing from dying friend now a fugitive
Prosecutors subpoena online videos after fatal crash
Police collect what could be compelling evidence in Beach man’s death
