To be tried on gun, theft charges

WILKES-BARRE – An Edwardsville man awaiting trial on homicide charges was scheduled Monday to be tried in January on other charges in two unrelated cases.

George Lee Barnes, 23, of Main Street, will stand trial Jan. 14 on several charges relating to incidents that occurred before the May 16 shooting death of 26-year-old Daron Rhashawn Trollinger, also of Edwardsville.

Barnes is tentatively scheduled to be tried on the homicide charges beginning April 8.

Police say Trollinger was shot and killed during a drug deal inside the Eagle Ridge apartments in Edwardsville.

Barnes faces gun and drug charges, resisting arrest and an unrelated charge of criminal conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking at his January trials.

In the theft incident, police said that on Dec. 22, 2011, Robert Tolbert reported to Wilkes-Barre police he was driving a 2002 Lincoln when he saw two acquaintances, one identified as Barnes.

Tolbert said he pulled over and offered the two men a ride. After driving a short distance, Tolbert said, he was hit in the head with a handgun from the back seat and ordered to get into the back of the car.

Tolbert said he was able to get out of the vehicle and Barnes and the other male drove off.

Edwardsville police said that the following day they tried to stop the 2002 Lincoln, reported as stolen, and the driver led them on a brief chase. The vehicle was then involved in a crash and a man in the passenger front seat, later identified as Barnes, began fighting with officers, striking one in the face.

Police said Barnes had to be subdued by Taser.

A police search of the passenger side of the vehicle where Barnes had been seated uncovered a plastic bag with suspected crack cocaine and a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun.