BUTLER (Pa.) – A Butler County Court judge issued an order Monday granting the parole of 20-year-old Jonathan Young into the custody of either Warren County or Chautauqua County.
A look at court records, however, revealed that Young’s case in Warren County is now closed. An order was filed today in Warren County Court to rescind the bench warrant that was pending against Young.
WNYNewsNow left a message for Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson in an attempt to learn if his office has made arrangements to transfer Young back to the area. WNYNewsNow is also awaiting a response via email with the Chautauqua County Court to see if a court date has been scheduled for Young’s case.
Young was indicted last fall on 14 charges of arson and 11 charges of criminal mischief in connection with various fires that he’s accused of setting within the Jamestown and Falconer area.
Young was sentenced April 26th to 15-30 months in Butler County Prison after pleading guilty earlier in April to one count of arson. Young previously faced a total of 10 charges in connection with an arson on Route 8 in Slippery Rock.
Butler County Court credited Young with 395 days of time served at the sentencing, but Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon argued that Young didn’t serve enough time to be paroled in accordance with the Commonwealth’s law.
The victims of the Slippery Rock fire, Frank Davis and his wife, appeared in court that day but had Simon read their victim impact statement due to lingering emotions.
Young did briefly address the Davis family and the court.
“Over the last 13 months, I’ve learned a lot about myself,” Young said. “I truly feel remorseful for what I did. I realize I did wrong. I am very sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
“What I did was wrong. I will accept any punishment the court deems fit.”
Young, in addition to the jail sentence, was ordered to pay over $60,000 in fines, restitution and other fees. According to court statements today, the Davis’ residence wasn’t fully insured.
Public Defender Maura Palumbi, who appeared in place of Smith at Young’s sentencing, said that Young was deemed competent to stand trial after a series of mental health evaluations, but that he should receive more mental health treatment when he returns to New York State.
When someone lights that many fires you have to think that there is some serious type of mental health issue affecting his judgement. Almost seems like Young was compelled to set fires, almost like he couldn’t control the urge to do so. I wonder if he was a firebug as a kid?? I’m sure the upbringing Young had growing up was not the best environment for him to be in & may have directly contributed to his mental health problems.