(MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania, August 2, 2023) District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, following a two day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, Phillip HAUN, Jr. of Eldred, was convicted of crimes committed against a minor child.

Witnesses testified that the investigation started after a 9 year old child reported to his teachers, a caseworker and a forensic interviewer that HAUN had pointed a gun at him and threatened to shoot him because the child had broken his glasses. The child described the firearm.

Trooper Neil Ginther, of the Pennsylvania State Police, investigated the case. He obtained a search warrant to search for the firearm the child described in HAUN’s residence and seized two firearms. He obtained a warrant for HAUN’s arrest.

Trooper Ginther and other members of the Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run barracks went to the residence to serve the warrants. A child inside the residence yelled “Police are here!” HAUN exited the residence onto a porch where the Officers were and they explained to him that they had an arrest warrant for him. HAUN attempted to avoid arrest and was taken to the ground by Officers and continued to conceal his hands and flail his legs to prevent Officers from taking him into custody.

District Attorney Vettenburg-Shaffer: “Pennsylvania law permits testimony from child victims to be presented differently than adults in some circumstances. Pennsylvania’s “Tender Years” statute permits the Commonwealth to present testimony from adult witnesses about reports the child has made. We utilized that statute here in addition to testimony by the child.”

Additionally, the Commonwealth sought permission to present the child’s testimony pursuant to a statute that permits testimony of children by way of “Contemporaneous Alternative Method” in certain cases where the child testifies in a room separate from the defendant and it is live-streamed into the courtroom. This permits the child to testify and answer questions by the District Attorney as well as the defense attorney with only the Judge and necessary court personnel present in a less-intimidating setting.

District Attorney Vettenburg-Shaffer: “Cases involving minor victims are the most difficult because they are often unable to articulate the details of what occurred. Testifying in a courtroom is intimidating for anybody but children are particularly impacted by testifying in such a format. This case highlights the importance of special evidentiary rules for child witnesses.”

Shaffer thanked the caseworkers, forensic interviewer, school teacher, and bus driver who all provided testimony of what occurred to the jury as well as the members of law enforcement who worked on the case.

HAUN was convicted of 2 counts of Endangering Welfare of a Child (Felony and Misdemeanor), Terroristic Threats (Misdemeanor), Simple Assault by Physical Menace (Misdemeanor), and Resisting Arrest. He was acquitted of Strangulation. Shaffer advised the Court that she would seek a deadly weapon enhancement at the time of sentencing.

A sentencing date has not been set.