Probation in endangering case
A Penn Township man found guilty in a jury trial with recklessly endangering 50 to 75 people during a church picnic in July 2016 was sentenced to house arrest and several years of probation in Butler County Court on Thursday.
Shawn E. McDonell, 38, was sentenced to six years probation by Judge William Shaffer.
He was also ordered to pay court costs and a $50 fine, as well as to undergo intensive mental health treatment with individual therapy and psychiatric medication and to remain on house arrest with electronic monitoring pending further order of court, which will remain in place pending mental health treatment.
He was initially charged with 50 counts of reckless endangerment, which were consolidated into the two counts, as well as the other charges after an incident at the New Life Christian Ministries Church, 139 Knoch Road, Saxonburg, on July 1, 2016.
Pennsylvania State Police said McDonell was angry from being told he was not permitted on the church property.
