SMETHPORT — One of two Port Allegany residents charged in a rooftop standoff in Bradford City has pleaded guilty.
Christina M. Lynn-Hamilton, 28, who was scheduled for arraignment Thursday in McKean County Court, entered pleas in two cases.
According to Assistant District Attorney Bridget Murphy, in one case, on Jan. 9, Hamilton, knowing that Ryan P. Johnston, 27, was wanted on a felony bench warrant out of New York State, concealed him in her home.
In the second case, on Aug. 15, Hamilton, knowing there were bench warrants for Johnston and her, climbed out an attic window, intending to flee or jump, Murphy said.
Johnston, who was also charged in the alleged Aug. 15 incident, as well as in a drug possession case, has last-day-to-plea conferences set in October for the two cases.
Court records filed at the time Hamilton and Johnston were charged for the alleged Aug. 15 incident outlined a more than three-hour standoff; During that time, police from several agencies surrounded 217 South Ave. and tried to coax the pair down from the roof, where they had fled when police arrived.
During the standoff, police watched the pair nearly fall off multiple times and take suspected methamphetamine twice, the criminal complaints alleged.
Police decided to wait until the couple came down from the roof rather than try to extract them due to the risk to Hamilton, Johnston and police. Negotiations to get the pair to come down were not going well until a fireman who knew Johnston from childhood asked to talk to Johnston; The pair surrendered a short time later, the complaint stated.
