WEST CHESTER, PA — A series of courtroom outcomes and arrests this month delivered a stark snapshot of violent crime, child abuse, and drug trafficking cases moving through the Chester County justice system, as prosecutors announced guilty pleas, jury verdicts, and pending trials tied to some of the county’s most serious allegations.
At the center of the announcements, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Rendell Hoagland, 54, of West Caln Township, entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder, conspiracy, kidnapping, and related offenses stemming from the 2024 killing of his 12-year-old daughter, Malinda Hoagland. As part of a negotiated plea agreement accepted by Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft, Hoagland was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 to 60 years.
During a two-hour court proceeding, prosecutors said Hoagland admitted to years of repeated and systematic abuse leading up to the child’s death. Members of Malinda’s family addressed the court, describing the lasting impact of her killing, while first responders also spoke about their experience responding to the 911 call. District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said the plea marked a significant step toward accountability, while noting additional work remains in related matters. The trial for co-defendant Cindy Warren, Malinda’s stepmother, is currently scheduled to begin on June 8, 2026. Warren is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
In a separate case involving a volatile police response, authorities said Jon Muniz, 34, of Atglen, was arrested on January 6, 2026, following an alleged shooting incident at the Glenbrook Apartments. According to the criminal complaint, Parkesburg Borough police were dispatched for reports of gunfire and encountered Muniz on the roof of the apartment complex, allegedly firing a weapon into the air. Officers later recovered ballistic evidence from two nearby apartments. Muniz was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, and related offenses. He was remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $100,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 26, 2026. All charges in that case are allegations, and Muniz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Meanwhile, a Chester County jury on January 9, 2026, convicted Warren Reynolds of Avondale on more than 30 charges, including aggravated indecent assault, following a week-long trial before Judge Bret M. Binder. Prosecutors said evidence showed Reynolds repeatedly sexually abused a child between 1999 and 2003, beginning when the victim was eight years old. Testimony indicated much of the abuse occurred at a residence on Penn Green Road while Reynolds was entrusted with the child’s care. The jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges after deliberating for less than two hours.
In another sentencing outcome, Herman “Pluck” McMullen, 69, of Coatesville, was sentenced on January 5, 2026, to nine to 18 years in state prison for drug trafficking offenses. Prosecutors said McMullen, whose criminal history dates back to 1974 and includes 25 prior drug-related convictions, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and related charges after a 2024 investigation by Chester County detectives.
While several of the cases announced this month have reached resolution through pleas or verdicts, others remain active in the courts. Prosecutors emphasized that, in all pending matters, any suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.