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Plea Entered In Custody Interference Case

A Jamestown, NY, woman pleaded guilty to her role in a situation that saw two minors taken for their residences in Warren County to New York State.

Christine M. Johnson, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with custody of children before President Judge Maureen Skerda on Thursday.

Johnson was charged along with Michael D. Johnson in the wake of the Nov. incident.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Pennsylvania State Police were contacted by the parent of one of the juveniles, who had left a note on her bedroom door stating that she ran away.

The parent allegedly told police that he contacted the Johnsons and Michael Johnson told him he had “no idea” where his daughter was. The affidavit states that he had given state police a similar answer.

Police eventually located the juveniles at a playground in New York state. One told police that they contacted Christine Johnson asking to be picked up at their home in Sheffield and then to pick up a friend in Farmington Township.

After the Johnsons picked up the juveniles, they went to multiple residences in Jamestown, one of which is identified in the affidavit as a “‘safe house’ in case the police were to come to (the Johnson’s) house looking for them.”

Troopers state in the affidavit that the Johnsons “at no point” had parental permission to pick up the juveniles.

Her counsel, Henry Borger, said that the offense carries a 15-year registration as a Megan’s Law offender but noted that there is “no sexual contact alleged here.”

In exchange for the plea, two counts each of kidnapping of a minor and concealment of the whereabouts of a child were not prosecuted,

The following defendants entered not guilty pleas:

Lonny J. Connolly, 50, Sheffield. Connolly has been charged with two counts of DUI and three traffic offenses.

Kolby M. Sabat, 28, Clarendon. Sabat has been charged with two counts of DUI and five traffic offenses.

Donald S. Seither, 36, Sugar Grove. Seither has been charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christopher M. Walton, 44, Warren. Walton has been charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endanger another person, simple assault and two counts of harassment.

David S. Williams, 38, Warren. Williams has been charged at two dockets with a total of six counts of corruption of minors, four counts of indecent exposure and indecent assault.

Joshua D. Burger, 32, Reynoldsville, Pa., pleaded no contest to terroristic threats. A count of possession of drug paraphernalia was not prosecuted.

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