Snafu delays pleading in Cassidy-related case

The cousin of accused cop-killer John "Jordan" Lewis - who authorities say helped Lewis flee the city last month after the shooting death of Police Officer Chuck Cassidy - was expected to plead guilty yesterday to charges of hindering apprehension and obstructing justice.

However, the guilty plea could not take place because the defendant, Hakim Glover, 24, of Hunting Park, had not been transported to the Criminal Justice Center in Center City.

Glover is being held at Northampton County Prison, about 60 miles north of the city. He was moved there because an aunt, Lynn Dyches, who is Lewis' mother, is a corrections officer in the Philadelphia prison system.

Common Pleas Judge Benjamin Lerner yesterday rescheduled Glover's case for Jan. 7 and ordered that he be brought to court that day.

Glover is expected to enter an open guilty plea to a felony charge of hindering apprehension and to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing justice.

An open plea means that no deal has been made between the prosecution and defense, and the judge is to sentence Glover on a later date.

Glover's defense attorney, Michael I. McDermott, said after yesterday's court proceeding that his client decided he would plead guilty because "looking at all the evidence . . . it's our belief it's better he mitigate the damages by pleading guilty" rather than having the case proceed to trial.

"The commonwealth evidence is pretty strong," he said.

McDermott said Glover has been cooperating with police. His client waived his Nov. 14 preliminary hearing in Municipal Court.

Glover could testify as a prosecution witness at Lewis' preliminary hearing, scheduled for Jan. 10 and 11.

When asked about this, Assistant District Attorney Ed Cameron said: "We'll see what happens." He said that "no firm arrangement or agreement" has been made.

Lewis, 21, is accused of shooting Cassidy during an Oct. 31 robbery at the Dunkin' Donuts on Broad Street near 66th Avenue in West Oak Lane. Cassidy, 54, a married father of three children, died the next day.

Authorities contend that Glover drove Lewis from Philadelphia to Delaware on Nov. 3 and bought him a bus ticket so he could flee to Miami. Lewis was arrested in Miami three days later, then flown back to Philadelphia.

Prosecutors also allege that Glover helped Lewis stash two guns - a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol, believed to be the weapon used to shoot Cassidy, and Cassidy's 9 mm Glock pistol, which Lewis allegedly stole after the officer was shot - in another relative's Hunting Park house. *