(MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: April 4, 2024): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that a former Eldred and Bradford resident convicted last month at a jury trial of Flight to Avoid Apprehension and 2 counts of Persons Not to Possess Firearm (prior felony conviction, wanted person status) has been sentenced by the Judge to 8 years to 16 years in state prison plus 1 year of consecutive supervision. 

Timothy Bottorf had been wanted by police after failing to appear at a jury trial in April, 2023, which resulted in the Judge issuing a warrant for his arrest.  Over the next few weeks, police received various tips with sightings of Bottorf.  In May, Pennsylvania State Police initiated a traffic stop and the driver indicated that he had just left a residence in Eldred and Bottorf was hiding in the residence. 

Officers took up surveillance of the residence while a search warrant was being presented to a Judge.  Detectives with the McKean County Drug Task Force as well as K9s Duke and Rigby executed the search warrant on the residence and located Bottorf hiding in a closet. 

A firearm was located in the basement that contained his DNA.  He had previously been convicted of a felony and was ineligible to have possession or control of firearms.  Additionally, he was a wanted person and his status as a wanted person also makes him ineligible to possess firearms.

DA Vettenburg-Shaffer:  “Police officers face danger every day and they faced danger when they executed the search warrant on the house in Eldred.  The risk to officers from a felon hiding in a residence in which a firearm was located is great.  The Detectives were in this house for 10 minutes yelling “police, warrant!” and “Tim, come out.”  K9 Duke was barking.  Bottorf did not show himself.  After 10 minutes of tense searching from room to room, Detectives located Bottorf hiding in a closet behind clothes and plastic bins.  An AR15 rifle was found in the basement.”

In addition to the incarceration and supervision, Bottorf was found to not be eligible for any early reentry program; he must undergo drug and alcohol assessment, and pay costs.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://mckean.crimewatchpa.com/da/136029/post/bottorf-sentenced-8-years-16-years