Venango man pleads guilty to attempted murder

A Venango man pleaded guilty to attempted murder for trying to kill a Meadville man in the Plateau area last year.

Martin Leroy Chaney, 62, pleaded guilty Thursday before Crawford County Circuit Judge Francis J. Schultz to a charge of attempted first-degree murder and now faces six to 20 years in state prison.

The Meadville Police Department charged Chaney with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, simple assault and possession of an instrument of crime in the April 30, 2023, attack.

Police say Cheney shot the man five times outside his home and also tried to stab him. Police say the attack happened while the man was walking his dog.

According to Cheney’s testimony at a preliminary hearing on June 15, 2023, the attack on Cheney was the result of a domestic dispute.

In exchange for Cheney’s guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder, Crawford County District Attorney Paula DiGiacomo agreed not to pursue other charges.

Chaney remains in the Crawford County Correctional Facility without bond pending Schultz’s formal sentencing on Dec. 4.