Fourth person faces charges in Barto case
BUTLER TWP — A fourth person has been charged as police continue to investigate the killing of Melissa Barto earlier this month.
Justin M. Johnson, 19, was charged Wednesday by state police with felony hindering apprehension or prosecution and misdemeanor false reports to law enforcement authorities.
He was arraigned by District Judge Kevin O’Donnell and booked into Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail.
Ishemer D. Ramsey, 21, of Lyndora was arrested June 11 and charged with criminal homicide. Police claim that he shot Barto, his girlfriend, multiple times on June 8.
Police say that Johnson, after Ramsey was arrested and charged, made efforts to interfere with the investigation by providing an alibi for Ramsey.
Johnson, according to the criminal complaint, on June 11 visited the state police barracks. He went there voluntarily and asked to speak with officers who were investigating Barto’s death.
Police say he claimed to be with Ramsey throughout the day of the murder. He claimed that at 10:45 a.m. Barto was with them and he witnessed her get into a Subaru car under the Picklegate bridge driven by a woman, according to the complaint.
Johnson told police that Ramsey asked her where she was going and she replied “none of your business,” the complaint said.
Police also noted in the complaint that Johnson posted to Facebook saying that Ramsey would not kill Barto and that he was the last person to see them together.
Police say they have evidence that Barto was in Penn Township with Ramsey after she left work at 3:30 p.m. that day, meaning they do not believe Johnson’s story to be true.
Johnson did not have a criminal history in Pennsylvania before this incident. He was a 2016 graduate of Butler High School where he wrestled and played football.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in district court on June 29.
He is the fourth person to be charged in connection with Barto’s death.
James E. Howard-George, 23, of Butler is charged with conspiracy to commit homicide. Police say he helped dispose of Barto’s body.
Joshua W. Bowser, 21, of Lyndora was charged with felony hindering apprehension or prosecution. Police believe he loaned his car to Ramsey to dispose of Barto’s body.
