Still no decision on bail for Kenneth Michaels after second day

After two days of testimony, a decision on whether Kenneth Michaels will be released on bail remains elusive.

Michaels is awaiting trial on charges of homicide and possession of an instrument of crime stemming from an Aug. 17 incident during which Michaels allegedly shot his brother-in-law and former business partner John Roskowski following an argument between the two at the business in Old Lycoming Township where Michaels was CEO.

During day two of what was originally scheduled to be a one-day hearing, Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade presented presiding Judge Ryan Tira with additional interview footage between Michaels, Lycoming Regional Police Detective Justin Segura, lead investigator, and Steve Sorage, a detective with the Lycoming County District Attorney's office.

During the interview, Michaels said that tensions between himself and Roskowski had only deepened upon Roskowski's return to Williamsport from South Carolina, painting himself as the "sole source of anger" for Roskowski, following the death of his father.

These tensions ultimately led to an assault charge being filed against Roskowski in September of 2021, according to Lycoming Regional Police Captain Chris Kriner, who was called as the defense's only witness by attorney, Edward Rymsza.

In the video, Michaels also stated that he had not had contact with Roskowski in the six months prior to the shooting, and believed Roskowski was watching for him to arrive at work that morning.

An administrative assistant at the business testified that Roskowski visited his former business often, including after the 2021 assault charge, mostly to the fleet garage, where his car would be serviced.

She stated that although the staff were aware of conflict between Michaels and Roskowski, she had a friendly relationship with Roskowski, rejecting the label of "maniac" applied to him by Michaels several times during his interactions with police, and said she was not aware of any previous altercations involving Roskowski.

On Aug. 16, the day before the shooting, Roskowski, a former owner who's father started the business in the mid-1960's, visited the company where his vehicle was being worked on, according to court documents, and upon learning of his visit, Michaels informed staff that Roskowski was not welcome on the property anymore.

Roskowski returned the next day, and after being notified that he was prohibited from the premises, became enraged and drove to the administrative wing of the company and began constantly ringing the buzzer at the locked entrance, according to witness testimony.

Michaels retrieved a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun from his desk before confronting Roskowski, admitting that he knew the gun was loaded, according to court testimony.

The administrative assistant testified that after leaving her desk to inform Michaels that Roskowski was at the front door, she did not hear Michaels raise his voice during the ensuing argument, but had heard Roskowski refer to Michaels as an "[expletive] coward" repeatedly.

After Roskowski took several steps towards Michaels, he first told Roskowski to "stop," before directing a secretary to call 911 just prior to shooting Roskowski, according to court testimony.

Roskowski was rushed to UPMC Williamsport, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room. An autopsy determined that he died as a result of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, which damaged several vital organs, Segura stated.

Police arrested Michaels on Sept. 1, and he was arraigned on Sept. 14, after being extradited from Cape May, New Jersey back to Lycoming County.

During questioning by Wade, Segura stated that he had assembled a team to take Michaels into custody at his residence, and had no initial plans for extradition, stating that they were only able to locate Michaels through a location ping on his cell phone.

During cross examination by Rymsza, Segura said that Michaels had been cooperative throughout the investigation, that Captain Kriner and himself were aware of Michaels' summer home in Cape May, and that no travel restriction had been placed on Michaels.

Judge Tira will now receive written briefs from Wade and Rymsza prior to rendering his decision.

No date has been set for when the matter will be decided.

Michaels remains committed to the Lycoming County Prison.