Justin Johnson

A Butler man charged with providing a false alibi for the alleged shooter in the killing of Melissa Barto was placed into the county Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program on Tuesday.

Justin M. Johnson, 20, was placed into the program for two years by Butler County President Judge Thomas Doerr, with the possibility of having probation terminated after a year if all costs are paid and he is on good behavior.

He faced charges of felony hindering apprehension and misdemeanor false reports to law enforcement authorities. Johnson also was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and undergo any evaluations and treatments deemed fit by the Butler County Adult Probation Office.

Johnson was charged in connection with the shooting death of Melissa Barto, 26, on June 8, 2017, after state police said Johnson provided officers with a false alibi for the alleged shooter, Ishemer Ramsey, 21, of Lyndora.

Police said Johnson told troopers that he was with Ramsey and Barto on the day of her death and that he saw Barto get into a Subaru car with a female driver. Police accused Johnson of intentionally trying to disrupt the investigation with his statements.

Prosecutors previously revealed that Johnson received text messages and pictures from Ramsey, including an image of Barto's dead body, before providing the alibi.

His attorney, Patrick Casey, told the court that Johnson is a “young man who has had no prior involvement with the legal system” and since his arrest lost his education opportunity as a full-time student and varsity football athlete at Thiel College.

Casey said Johnson has since taken classes at Butler County Community College and has now been accepted to Mercyhurst University and is “doing well academically.”

“We believe this is an appropriate plea due to his minimal involvement in this case,” Casey said.

Ramsey was charged with homicide and related charges after police say he fatally shot Barto during an argument in his car. She was reported missing that day. On June 12, Barto's body was found by a farmer in a field in Lawrence County.

Ramsey was wanted for questioning in her disappearance when he was pulled over June 10 by Butler Township police. His vehicle was found to be missing the passenger seat, and the “overwhelming odor” of bleach was coming from the interior, police said.

He was also found armed with a 1911-style handgun, police said.

Ramsey continues to be held in Butler County Prison without bail pending further court proceedings, with a status conference scheduled Aug. 22.

Two other men, Joshua W. Bowser, 22, of Lyndora, and James E. Howard-George, 24, of Butler, are also charged in the case — Bowser with felony hindering apprehension and misdemeanor conspiracy counts to abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence after allegedly allowing Ramsey to use his vehicle to transport Barto's body; and Howard-George with felony conspiracy to criminal homicide, misdemeanor abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, after allegedly helping Ramsey dispose of Barto's remains.

Both also await further court proceedings, with Howard-George continuing to be held after bail was denied, while Bowser was later released on pretrial supervision in January, after a successful bail reduction motion.