CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) – A local man pleaded guilty to obstruction on Wednesday in a case involving two children found living in “deplorable” conditions at a New Bethlehem apartment.

In Clarion County Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday, February 9, 32-year-old Robert Leonard Franklin, of New Bethlehem, pleaded guilty to the following charge:

– Obstruct Administration Law/Other Government Function, Misdemeanor 2

In addition, Franklin pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia in an unrelated case.

As a result, the following charges in both cases were dropped:

– Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3 (two counts)
– Intentional Possession of a Controlled Substance by Person Not Registered. Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
– Driving While Suspended or Revoked, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Driving at Safe Speed, Summary
– Disregard Traffic Lane (Single), Summary
– Fail to use safety belt – driver and front seat occupant, Summary

Franklin remains free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.

The obstruction and child endangerment charges stem from a June 2021 probation visit to a residence in New Bethlehem:

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 4:00 p.m. on June 14, 2021, New Bethlehem Borough Police were requested to assist Clarion County Probation at a residence on Broad Street in New Bethlehem with a follow-up with Danielle Wolfe.

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Area Man Pleads Guilty to Obstruction in Child Endangerment Case

February 14, 2022 12:25 am·Author: Leon Aristeguieta

CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) – A local man pleaded guilty to obstruction on Wednesday in a case involving two children found living in “deplorable” conditions at a New Bethlehem apartment.https://01b029c4f2b7afa8f759242a943c7b6e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlIn Clarion County Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday, February 9, 32-year-old Robert Leonard Franklin, of New Bethlehem, pleaded guilty to the following charge:

– Obstruct Administration Law/Other Government Function, Misdemeanor 2

In addition, Franklin pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia in an unrelated case.https://01b029c4f2b7afa8f759242a943c7b6e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlAs a result, the following charges in both cases were dropped:

– Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3 (two counts)
– Intentional Possession of a Controlled Substance by Person Not Registered. Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
– Driving While Suspended or Revoked, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Driving at Safe Speed, Summary
– Disregard Traffic Lane (Single), Summary
– Fail to use safety belt – driver and front seat occupant, Summary

Franklin remains free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.https://01b029c4f2b7afa8f759242a943c7b6e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

The obstruction and child endangerment charges stem from a June 2021 probation visit to a residence in New Bethlehem:

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 4:00 p.m. on June 14, 2021, New Bethlehem Borough Police were requested to assist Clarion County Probation at a residence on Broad Street in New Bethlehem with a follow-up with Danielle Wolfe.When probation officers arrived at the residence, they heard a baby crying, and a man carrying a baby in a car seat then exited the apartment followed by a child of approximately two to three years of age, the complaint notes.

According to the complaint, when asked if he knew where Danielle Wolfe was, the man said he did not, and when asked his name, he gave the name “Josh.” However, when police checked on the vehicle the man went to, they discovered it was a vehicle known to officers to be operated by Robert Franklin. Police also found the registration on the vehicle came back to someone who is deceased.

Police then spoke to the man again, and he reportedly admitted he had given a false name and said his name was Robert Franklin, and he was on probation out of Armstrong County.

The complaint notes when asked again about Wolfe, Franklin told police she was at her mother’s house.

A check of Franklin’s name then found that he was wanted by Armstrong County Probation, and he was subsequently taken into custody.

According to the complaint, it was then found that Wolfe was inside the apartment that Franklin had exited. In the apartment, police also found many uncapped, used hypodermic needles and knives lying around the rooms, within reach of the children. They also discovered empty stamp bags and drug paraphernalia.

The complaint states the items seized included:

– 20 used hypodermic needles (10 uncapped)
– one rolled dollar bill
– four drug pipes
– one straw
– 10 empty stamp bags
– 29 small empty plastic bags
– one razor blade

The apartment was reportedly found in “deplorable” condition, with garbage on the floor, clothing piled up, and no crib for the infant to sleep in. There were also dirty dishes piled up on the stove and in the sink, according to the complaint.

The children were then taken into protective custody and Clarion County Children and Youth Services (CYS) was contacted. The children were later turned over to CYS custody.

During a later interview, Wolfe reportedly told police that Franklin lied about his name because he “missed something with probation” and “probably believed he had a warrant.” She also denied any drug use and claimed she did not know how all of the uncapped needles came to be in the apartment, the complaint states.

Wolfe also provided a written statement in which she claimed to have been “cleaning all night” and said she had fallen asleep before probation arrived and didn’t hear them. The condition of the apartment, with dishes piled up, garbage all over the floor, and syringes and empty stamp bags found all over the apartment showed that her statement was not true, the complaint indicates.

Probation officers reported that when they went into the residence, Wolfe was found fully clothed, sitting on the toilet in the bathroom, holding a soda, the complaint notes.

Franklin was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller on July 27, 2021, at 9:45 a.m.

Wolfe scheduled for sentencing

Court documents indicate 30-year-old Danielle Rene Wolfe, of Mayport, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seidle-Patton on Wednesday, February 16, at 9:30 a.m. on the following charge:

– Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)

She pleaded guilty to the charge on January 12.

Wolfe remains confined in Clarion County Jail on $10,000.00 monetary bail.