LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — The fourth and final defendant charged in the 2016 murder of Dennis Pitch in his Salisbury Township home will serve up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in Lancaster County Court, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Brandon Bills, 41, of Coatesville, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, two counts of robbery, and a count of criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, according to the office of Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams.
Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth sentenced Bills to 5-10 years in prison.
Bills is the fourth person who will serve time for Pitch's 2016 murder.
Christopher Lyles was convicted of second-degree murder in March 2020 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Michael Baker was convicted of second-degree murder in September 2021 and is also serving life in prison without parole.
Kristopher Smith was convicted of first-degree murder and related charges in August, and is also facing a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Bills testified against his codefendants at each of their trials.
A Pennsylvania State Police trooper spoke at Bills' sentencing hearing, saying his convicted co-defendants were part of a gang that would likely attack Bills in prison if given the opportunity.
Ashworth noted that Bills deserved praise for testifying truthfully and consistently in all three trials, but noted that he was also part of the criminal conspiracy that cost Pitch his life.
The judge also stated every precaution should be taken to make sure Bills is safe, according to prosecutors.
Bills' family spoke at the hearing about his struggle with methamphetamine addiction at the time of Pitch's murder, and about how he has improved his life in jail.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman read statements from the victim’s family, one which stated, “Whether or not you were in the house or pulled the trigger, you were part of the reason Dennis isn’t here anymore.,
Fetterman, who prosecuted each case, presented evidence and testimony throughout the trials that the men targeted Pitch’s home on Timothy Drive for a robbery after hearing the victim might be in possession of a large sum of cash.
Smith and Bills lived in the Narvon area near the victim at the time of the murder, but Smith was the connecting piece, according to evidence presented at the trials. He knew Pitch and was aware of his plans to withdraw the money, according to testimony.
Smith conspired with Lyles and Baker, who lived in Delaware County and drove to Lancaster County to commit the crime, to shoot and kill Pitch on the night of Dec. 2, 2016.
That night, Baker, Lyles, and Smith went into Pitch's home, while Bills stayed at the car.
The victim was fatally shot in the head and torso.
Upon returning to the vehicle, Smith told Bills, “It didn’t go as planned.”
Smith and the other two suspects then drove away, while Bills remained behind and ran into the residence, according to testimony.
Later, Bills returned to his home, where several witnesses told police they heard a visibly shaken Bills say he had been involved in “some crazy (stuff).”
