Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Travel to Commit Murder

COLUMBUS—Michael Haynie, age 48, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in United States District Court here today to three charges arising from his role in the fatal shooting of a West Virginia drug dealer on June 7, 2008. Haynie faces at least ten years imprisonment and up to life behind bars.

Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Field Division, and Acting Columbus Police Chief Stephen Gammill announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

According to a statement of facts filed with Haynie’s plea, Haynie and Adam McClellan of Zanesville drove to the house of Christopher Roush, a drug dealer in Mason, West Virginia on June 7, 2008 in order to rob the dealer of money and drugs. Haynie entered the house with a firearm and struck one of the occupants with the gun. The gun discharged, firing a round into the ceiling.

Haynie admitted that he struck the man again with the firearm, which again discharged. This time the bullet struck the man in the head killing him. Haynie fled without money or drugs.

Haynie pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel to commit a crime which resulted in the death of another. This is punishable by up to life imprisonment. He also pleaded guilty to one count of murder with a firearm, punishable by a mandatory term of ten years and up to life imprisonment. He also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

Judge Watson will set a date for sentencing.

Columbus Police arrested Haynie on July 21 on an unrelated warrant from West Virginia. He has been in custody since his arrest.

Lockhart commended the investigation by West Virginia State Police, Columbus Police detectives, and FBI agents, and Assistant U.S Attorneys Kevin Kelley and David Devillers, who prosecuted the case.