Hearing Date Approaching for Area Man Charged With False Imprisonment, Threatening, Endangering Infant

JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – A hearing date has been scheduled for an area man who is accused of false imprisonment and threatening and endangering an infant during an incident in Snyder Township.

Court documents indicate 45-year-old Donald John White, of Penfield, is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana at 11:30 a.m. on September 21, on the following charges:

– Unlawful Restraint of Minor/Parent – Risk of Bodily Injury, Felony 2
– False Imprisonment of Minor/Parent, Felony 2
– Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 3
– Terroristic Threats With Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Unauthorized Use Motor/Other Vehicles, Misdemeanor 2
– Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Misdemeanor 3
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
– Drive While Operator Privilege Suspended Or Revoked, Summary
– Fail to use safety belt – driver and front seat occupant, Summary
– Safety Restraints – child under 2 years, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Reckless Driving, Summary

He is currently lodged in the Jefferson County Jail on $25,000.00 (10%) monetary bail.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Snyder Township in early August.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 12:40 p.m. on August 7, DuBois-based State Police were dispatched to the area of State Route 28 and James Bond Road, in Snyder Township, Jefferson County, for a report of a man with no parental rights taking a child in a car without a car seat.

Police say the known female victim who reported the incident then called again from a location on Russel Road in Polk Township, Jefferson County.

According to police, the victim reported that she took her infant son to a residence on Galusha Road for a known woman to babysit him on August 6 and informed Donald White, who is the baby’s father, where the baby was. She told police that White then arrived at the residence on August 7 before she did, took and held the baby, and threatened to take the baby away.

The victim also reported that White began throwing rocks at her vehicle and trying to smash her windshield when she did arrive at the scene. She then told White she was going to call the police, and White threatened to “end both of their lives,” referring to himself and the baby. The victim then contacted police as White began to place the baby, without a car seat, into his car.

According to the complaint, White took the baby and began driving while holding the baby in his arms. The victim followed in a separate vehicle while calling 9-1-1. She reported that White was driving recklessly at a high rate of speed on dirt roads and making u-turns.

The victim told police that White’s car then overheated and he got out, carrying the baby upside down by his feet, and ran through a field. He then approached the victim in her vehicle, but when she asked him to give her son back, he reportedly refused and said the infant was “an insurance policy,” while continuing to hold him upside down by his foot, according to the complaint.

White also reportedly held a rock and threatened to harm the infant with the rock, the complaint notes.

According to the complaint, White then began to act as if the infant needed help from the victim as the infant was falling asleep after being shaken around. White reportedly said “please help him,” and the victim put her window down for him to hand her the baby.

White then reached in and unlocked the door, then got into the passenger seat and threatened to hurt the infant unless the victim began to drive, so the victim continued driving up Bond Road. White then told her to turn onto Russel Road, and she complied, the complaint states.

The victim reported that White said he was taking them to the woods and “if they saw police, they were all three going to pay,” according to the complaint.

The victim told police that she was in fear for her and her son’s life, and when she saw a woman in a yard, she stopped and jumped out and asked the woman to call 9-1-1. White then took the vehicle and fled back toward Bond Road while still holding the baby. He then returned to the residence on Galusha Road and left the child and the vehicle there.

According to the complaint, the victim told police that she and White had a “volatile” relationship and White had no parental rights to the child, as he is not on any paperwork related to the child, and there is no custody agreement.

The charges were filed against White through Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana’s office on August 7.


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