CLEARFIELD – Plea and Sentencing Court Tuesday featured two strangulation cases, a fleeing incident, an escape and a woman with two contraband charges for trying to sneak methamphetamine into the county jail.
Keith Allen Billotte, 46, of Lanse, pleaded guilty to terroristic threats and simple assault, both misdemeanors.
This incident occurred Dec. 21, 2019 in Cooper Township. Billotte grabbed the victim “by the neck with two hands and began squeezing,” threw her across the room and threatened to kill her before she was able to get away.
Originally, he had also been charged with felony strangulation, but it was dropped. The victim agreed with that change, according to First Assistant District Attorney Leanne Nedza.
Billotte was sentenced by Judge Paul E. Cherry to 12 months to four years in state prison.
Joseph Cole Snyder, 30, of Corsica, was also originally charged with strangulation, but pleaded guilty to misdemeanor terroristic threats, simple assault, institutional vandalism and a summary harassment charge in connection with an incident on June 21, 2019 in Sandy Township.
According to the affidavit, after Snyder saw the victim enter the home to retrieve items, he grabbed her around the throat, closing off her airway, she told police.
He then held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her before striking her head off the wall and tightening his pressure on her neck, according to the complaint.
She told investigators she was able to break free and to defend herself, as Snyder punched her in the face and head before they fell to the floor.
He once again put her in a chokehold and said: “I will kill you, put your body in the floor.” They separated, and then he shoved her and pulled her hair.
After she said she was leaving and taking the dogs, he tackled her to the floor, threatened to kill her and put her in a chokehold again.
At this point, her grandfather broke down the door and held Snyder until police arrived.
Snyder was sentenced by Cherry to six months to three years in the county jail and two years consecutive probation.
Shawn Christopher Shipton Jr., 29, of Williamsport, pleaded guilty to felony fleeing from police, misdemeanor simple assault, misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person and a summary accident involving damage charge for leading police on a chase on May 11, 2019, starting on Interstate 80 in Lawrence Township and ending in Bradford Township.
At one point, he drove directly toward and struck a police car and later he caused another police car to crash. Eventually he hit a dead end where the vehicle overturned onto the driver’s side. He then fled on foot.
Shipton was sentenced to a total of 24 months to seven years in state prison by Cherry.
Denny Lee Daub, 32, of Clearfield, pleaded guilty to felony escape for failing to return to the county jail after he was released for a doctor’s appointment. For this, he was sentenced to 12 months to five years in state prison by Cherry.
In the second case, he pleaded guilty to prohibited offensive weapon and possession of a small amount of marijuana and was given a concurrent term of nine months to two years in state prison.
In his third case, he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for which he will pay fines and costs.
Megan Leigh McKenzie, 33, of Clearfield was sentenced to serve 24 months to seven years in state prison for two cases of contraband at the county jail.
In both contraband cases, she was in possession of suspected methamphetamine.
She also pleaded guilty in four felony retail theft cases for which she received an additional six months to five years state prison term.