A Lancaster woman was recently sentenced for bringing her 6-year-old child to a home occupied by three registered sex offenders.
Tabetha L. Mitchell repeatedly brought her child to the Manor Street home where her boyfriend lived, along with two other men registered under Megan’s Law.
Two of the men were restricted from such contact with children, per court orders attached to their convictions.
Mitchell, 25, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors and obstruction of justice, according to Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick, who prosecuted.
On Tuesday, Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright sentenced Mitchell to 9 to 23 months (to be served on house arrest with electronic monitoring), followed by three years of probation.
Lancaster city police opened an investigation in January when a state parole agent went to the Manor Street home and noticed sidewalk chalk outside the home and toys inside – indicators that children were staying or visiting there.
Orlando Johnson, Mitchell’s boyfriend, said his sister was storing items there because she lost her home. Johnson had Mitchell pose as his sister when a parole agent called a number provided by Johnson.
Mitchell admitted to lying about being Johnson’s sister. She also admitted to bringing the child to the home on at least four prior occasions.
Johnson is on Megan’s Law for sexual assault. One of the roommates was convicted of sexual assault of a child; the third was convicted for having child pornography.
ADA Haverstick asked for Mitchell to be sentenced to prison.
She will serve at least nine months on house arrest, following by about two years on parole and three years of probation.
Lancaster city police Detective Heather Halstead filed charges.
Johnson also was charged with obstruction.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright
