Keith A. Reber, 49, Orwigsburg, went on trial before a jury in Schuylkill County court before Judge Charles M. Mller on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful restrain, recklessly endangering another person, tampering with evidence, and possession of firearms with altered numbers.

Informnation filed to court by the state police allege that on May 3, 2012, around 3 a. m. Reber and an accomplice took Bryan R. Smith, 26, Orwigsburg, to an area along Meadow Drive, tied him to a tree and left. When Reber returned about 11 a.m. the same day he found Smith dead.District Attorney Karen Byrnes Noon announced she is not seeking the death penalty.