(Pa) Brackenridge man accused of abusing 9-year-old boy avoids jail, gets probation [View all]

An Allegheny County judge reluctantly accepted a plea agreement Monday that calls for no jail time for a Brackenridge man accused of sexually touching a 9-year-old boy and having naked photos of the boy and a 17-year-old girl he’d previously assaulted.
John Patrick Godfrey, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of corruption of minors — while 16 other charges were withdrawn —in exchange for probation.

Common Pleas Judge Bruce Beemer set the probation to run for 10 years, noting that the term was intentionally lengthy given the circumstances of the case. “If it weren’t for what I think are the best interests of the children, I’d be telling you to go to trial,” he said.

Godfrey was initially charged with 18 counts, including possession of child pornography, indecent assault and endangering welfare of children. Brackenridge police were contacted on Sept. 23 by
the owner of a phone sex company who reported a disturbing phone call one of her operators received. During the call, according to the criminal complaint,
Godfrey, who identified himself and provided a credit card number, spoke about performing sex acts with a 9-year-old boy and then put the child on the line to say hello.

Investigators obtained a warrant for Godfrey’s phone and found 13 images in it, including pictures of the 9-year-old unclothed, as well as pictures of the now-17-year-old girl, who was the victim in a case filed in Warren County in 2017. In that case, Godfrey pleaded guilty to indecent assault and was ordered to serve a minimum of 90 days in jail.

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/brackenridge-man-accused-of-abusing-9-year-old-boy-avoids-jail-gets-probation/