Lamour Branch, the man accused of killing two New Philadelphia teens in October 2023, will spend up to 56 years behind bars after pleading guilty in Schuylkill County Court.
Branch, 21, of Port Carbon, was charged with first- and third-degree murder in the Oct. 8, 2023, deaths of 18-year-old Hunter Mock and 16-year-old Angelito Caraballo, whose bodies were found in a wooded area off Ferndale Road near New Philadelphia two days later.
On Thursday morning — a day before jury selection was scheduled to begin — Branch appeared before President Judge Jacqueline L. Russell and pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the death of Hunter Mock.
He also entered a no-contest plea to a felony aggravated assault charge involving Angelito Caraballo, and pleaded guilty to misdemeanors of possessing an instrument of crime and tampering with physical evidence, according to District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake.
Branch was subsequently sentenced to 18 to 36 years in state prison on the murder charge and eight to 16 years on the aggravated assault charge.
He also received two to four years combined on the two misdemeanor charges, resulting in a total term of 28 to 56 years of incarceration.
Branch’s trial was scheduled to begin Monday, May 4.
O’Pake said that there had been ongoing discussions about a potential plea agreement over the past several days.
“It all happened pretty quickly,” he said.
O’Pake said state police will continue to investigate the death of Caraballo, as no one has taken responsibility for his murder.
He said the murders set off a lengthy, complicated investigation in October 2023 that ultimately lasted two and a half years. He particularly commended Trooper Nicholas Reese for his investigative efforts.
“There were some inherent difficulties that the commonwealth had with this case just based upon the facts,” O’Pake said.
Investigators said the victims’ bodies were found at “The Sanchez,” an old mining area off Ferndale Road about a mile east of Route 209. Mock died of a gunshot to the head while Caraballo had been stabbed, police said.
“Four young individuals walk into the woods,” O’Pake said. “Two of them were murdered, two walk out, and they’re pointing fingers at each other.”
Based on the available circumstantial evidence, prosecutors charged Branch with both homicides. After Branch was charged, the other witness — Jahlique Sherwood — was arrested on three separate occasions, including for charges of receiving a stolen firearm and carrying a firearm without a license, which O’Pake says would have damaged his credibility as a witness.
O’Pake said he has referred Sherwood’s cases to the state attorney general’s office due to the potential conflict.
O’Pake said both of the victims’ families were “very satisfied” and in agreement with the plea deal.
“I have to give them a lot of credit and gratitude, and I thank them for their strength and perseverance throughout the course of the investigation and for their preparation for the trial,” he said.
‘The right decision’
Shortly after the guilty plea was announced, O’Pake held a press conference late Thursday afternoon at the Schuylkill County Courthouse. He was accompanied by Senior Deputy DA Jennifer Foose, Trooper Reese and members of Caraballo’s family.
O’Pake said that the investigation into Caraballo’s death remains open, and authorities will try to determine whether an additional suspect will be charged.
He said his office will welcome any investigative information or tips from the public.
District Attorney Michael O’Pake talks about the plea agreement reached on the Lamour Branch case Thursday at a press conference at the Schuylkill County Courthouse. To his left are family members of the late Angelito Caraballo. On the left are Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Foose and state police Trooper Nicholas Reese. (HYUN SOO LEE/STAFF PHOTO)
“If anyone has any information that they even think may be helpful, we will be more than happy to examine that evidence and follow up on any leads it may bring us,” O’Pake said.
Caraballo’s mother, Tanya Evans, said she does not believe Branch took her son’s life.
“I feel like he played a big role,” she said, “but he’s not the one who actually killed him.”
Evans — who wore a graphic tee memorializing the two victims — said the past two and a half years have been “very, very hard.” She said she is relieved that at least one aspect of the case has been resolved.
She added that the plea agreement was a very hard decision, but she is also glad she didn’t have to go through the ordeal of sitting through a trial.
“This decision was not an easy decision for the district attorney’s office nor for the family, but it was the right decision and the just decision based upon the facts in this case,” O’Pake said. “For anyone to say otherwise is uninformed. Please do not perpetuate the pain for the families. Let that pain end today, and let the healing process begin.”
“The families of both victims in this case deserve a great deal of credit,” O’Pake continued. ” … Without them, we would not have reached the conclusion that we did today.”
O’Pake again thanked state police for the time and resources they spent on the investigation, and particularly credited Reese for his dedication.
“(Reese) has lived this case with the families for the last two and a half years,” O’Pake said. “Every day during that two and a half years, I guarantee you he worked on some aspect of this case. … He knows more about this case than anyone.”
He added that the possibility of a plea agreement only came up about 10 days prior to Thursday, and prosecutors made sure to get the families’ input in reaching their decision. Meanwhile, they continued preparing for the trial.
He again stressed the “inherent problems” with the case, noting the murders took place in a heavily wooded area, without any cameras or eyewitnesses.
“Two of the individuals (who entered the woods) left the woods that night,” he said. “One in a frantic state, and one to run and hide. Lamour Branch was the one to run and hide.
“Through the investigative work of state police and particularly Trooper Reese, we uncovered some circumstantial evidence that allowed us to charge just Mr. Branch.”
O’Pake said that Sherwood would have served as the prosecution’s main witness in the trial, but his recent criminal history would have damaged his credibility to the jury.
“(His credibility) has been compromised in other manners as well, with inconsistent statements he has provided,” O’Pake said, “all of which have been provided to defense counsel.”
The day the bodies were discovered, Branch was taken into custody on a criminal trespass charge from an unrelated case in September 2023.
State police at Frackville charged the defendant in the double homicide on June 5, 2024.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko and remanded to the county prison. Homicide is a non-bailable offense.
Branch has been in jail since December 2023, when Russell revoked his bail for violating conditions of an earlier bail release by failing to meet with his probation officer and also failing to appear for a hearing in the trespass case.
In October 2024, Branch waived his right to a formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty to all homicide-related charges.
Branch initially denied being at the homicide scene, but later admitted it, according to state police. Search warrants show that he told police about going with Mock and Caraballo and another man to New Philadelphia to take turns firing a gun. He claims the other man shot Mock.
Branch was represented by Public Defender Ashley Sabol. She could not be reached for comment Thursday.
O’Pake hopes the sentencing will help bring closure to the victims’ families.
“The families of the victims deserve the opportunity to heal from these tragic events,” the DA’s office said in a news release. “Those most familiar with the facts of this case — including Trooper Reese, the District Attorney’s Office and the victims’ families — have worked diligently to reach this resolution. Public criticism from individuals who are not fully informed of the facts may only serve to prolong the pain experienced by the families.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.