CLEARFIELD – A DuBois man will be serving up to 40 years in prison for shooting and killing his wife’s lover.
Glen “Chet” Chester Johnston, 61, killed Jude Srock, 46, also of DuBois, in a parking lot on South Franklin Street on March 17, 2022.
Previous testimony and a police recording of an interview with Johnston revealed that Srock was having an affair with Johnston’s wife.
He was found guilty of third-degree murder, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person after a trial in September.
Johnston was in court Monday for sentencing before President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman.
District Attorney Ryan Sayers noted that the probation office was recommending a minimum sentence of only 7 ½ years, which he felt was “not justice.”
He asked the judge for a harsher sentence with a 20-year minimum to ensure Johnston would be “very old” when considered for parole.
He commented that Johnston and his wife are still a couple, meaning Johnston “got what he wanted” when he killed Srock. He went on to speculate if Johnston gets out and his wife cheats again, the same thing could happen.
The victim’s mother addressed the court, describing her son as someone who had a dry sense of humor and loved to hunt and fish. There are “no words to define the emotional effect (of his loss) on this family,” she said.
She referred to people talking about Johnston as a “good man”, but she questioned whether a good man could look someone in the eyes and shoot them.
Their family has been changed because of this murder, but she said they are not looking for revenge but instead seek justice. She asked the judge to give Johnston the maximum sentence with no chance for parole.
Johnston’s attorney, William A. Shaw Jr., who served as district attorney for many years, stated he couldn’t remember a case like this in Clearfield County.
Johnston never denied responsibility for Srock’s death, and cooperated with police, Shaw said adding this crime was “born out of emotion.”
“I know he deeply regrets his actions.”
Sayers countered this by stating that the jury found there was malice in the shooting because Johnston drove to where Srock was located, loaded a gun and waited for him.
Johnston himself addressed the court saying, “I’m sorry for everything that’s happened.”
He went on to comment that the loss of a son must be the worst for a parent and if this were his son, he was not sure he would be able to forgive the killer.
“Nothing I say will help. I didn’t do it on purpose. There is no way I will ever stop hating myself,” he said.
“I know I can never be forgiven. I can’t forgive myself.”
Ammerman sentenced him to serve 20 to 40 years in state prison with 12 months consecutive probation. He was also ordered to pay over $6,000 in restitution, some of which will cover the costs of Srock’s funeral.
Ammerman commented that this crime “destroyed a lot of lives.”
During the trial, Johnston testified that he found out his wife was having an affair in November of 2021, but the couple decided to continue to work on their marriage.
The fateful encounter happened in March after Johnston learned the affair was continuing. He drove to a parking lot and waited for Srock.
When Srock approached, Johnston described Srock as having his chest “puffed out” in a macho manner. He insulted Johnston by saying he wasn’t a man and couldn’t take care of his wife.
Srock was being “arrogant” and thought he was being funny, Johnston testified.
“I just lost it,” he explained saying this is when he pulled the gun from his right front pants pocket, and it accidentally went off into the ground.
It was after Srock taunted him by saying, “So, you’re a big man. You going to shoot me?” that he shot him.
“At first I couldn’t believe I shot him.” He heard others coming who could help Srock so he fled.
“I was so upset I was going to shoot myself.”
After speaking with his wife, Johnston decided to surrender to the authorities.