HARRISBURG, Pa. —
A former Dauphin County magisterial district judge will serve up to 30 years in prison after her conviction last month on attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges related to the shooting of her estranged boyfriend in 2024.
Sonya McKnight, 55, was sentenced to a prison term of no less than 13.5 years and no more than 30 years in prison at a hearing before Senior Judge Howard Knisely Wednesday, May 28 in Dauphin County Court.
As part of the penalty, McKnight was also removed as a magisterial district judge.
The time McKnight already spent in prison while awaiting trial will count toward her sentence, Knisely ruled.
McKnight was convicted by a Delaware County jury on April 9. She was charged with shooting her estranged boyfriend, Michael McCoy, in the head after he told her he wanted to break up with her on February 10, 2024.
McCoy survived the encounter but was left blind in one eye. He testified against McKnight at trial.
The victim was not present at Wednesday's hearing, but did send a victim impact letter to the court.
FOX43 was inside the courtroom at the time of sentencing.
Seven people, including McKnight's eldest son, Stephen Baltimore, testified on her behalf on Wednesday.
McKnight's oldest son, Stephen Baltimore, was among those who spoke.
Baltimore has power of attorney over McKnight.
People who spoke on behalf of McKnight cited her accomplishments as magisterial judge, her community activism, and her role as a mother.
Three people spoke on behalf of the McCoy family, all of whom expressed forgiveness for McKnight, but asked for a reasonable sentence.
McKnight reportedly did not apologize to McCoy or his family for her actions at Wednesday's hearing.
She has 10 days to file a post-sentence motion to appeal, and 30 days to appeal her sentence to Pennsylvania's Superior Court.
Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormick prosecuted the case before an out-of-county jury after Dauphin County D.A. Fran Chardo recused himself from the case due to McKnight's previous history of working with judges and officials in Dauphin County.
McKnight was living full-time with McCoy, her then-boyfriend, at the time of the shooting.
McCoy told police and later testified that he was asleep until about 12:45 a.m., when he suddenly woke up to massive head pain and blindness. He told police he did not hear anything prior to the pain, and the McKnight kept asking him what he had done to himself.
McKnight assisted the victim in what was described to be a delayed manner, according to police, including avoiding the nearest bathroom and delaying when McCoy asked her to call 911.
Upon arrival, EMS determined McCoy had suffered a single gunshot wound that entered his head in the area of his right temple and exited near the left temple. McCoy said he had no idea that this had happened to him, and his reaction was described as pure shock.
When a police officer asked him if he had shot himself, a shocked McCoy exclaimed, "No!" police said.
As a result of the shooting, the victim was left blind in one eye.
Authorities interviewed McKnight about what had occurred and described her responses as "deceptive" in the criminal complaint.
McKnight's attorneys attempted to have the charges against her dismissed in September 2024, arguing there was no proof she actually pulled the trigger and implying that McCoy had shot himself.
The defense argued at trial that forensic evidence indicated McCoy’s hands had the most gunshot residue on them, whereas McKnight’s hands did not.
McKnight washed her hands twice before police could swab her hands for the chemicals that could show she was near the firearm when it was shot, the prosecution countered.
McKnight faces a potential prison term of 30-60 years following her conviction.
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