By Robert L. Baker, The Times Tribune,

After 34 years in state prison for his role in the 1977 murder of a Lake Winola bartender, Eugene McGuire walked out of a Wyoming County courtroom a free man on Tuesday.

A tearful Mr. McGuire, 51, apologized “for my actions that allowed another to take a life of a human being – especially the community, friends and family who had to suffer the impact and pain of my actions.”

Eugene McGuire was 17 on the night of June 17, 1977, drinking and playing cards with his 19-year-old stepbrother, Sidney Coolbaugh, and 24-year-old cousin, Robert Lobman, when the three opted to go to a Lake Winola bar, the Marine Tavern Inn.

After a few drinks, Mr. Lobman informed the other two he planned to rob the bar, according to court documents. Out of fear that Isabelle Nagy, the 60-year-old bartender, might recognize Mr. McGuire and Mr. Coolbaugh as “local boys,” Mr. Lobman ushered them outside and told them to remain as lookouts.

Mr. Lobman then went back into the bar alone.