UNNAMED BOY - 5 yo (7/2013)/ Charged: Parents; Danielle and Jeffrey Lenhart - Latrobe PA

Latrobe couple who locked son in car trunk avoids jail

By Rich Cholodofsky
Thursday, July 24, 2014, 10:45 p.m.

A Latrobe couple will serve two years on probation for locking their 5-year-old son in a car trunk in an effort to cure his fear of the dark.

Danielle and Jeffrey Lenhart entered the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program on Thursday in a deal approved by Westmoreland County Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr.

The deal, which did not require the Lenharts to admit guilt, occurred four months after another county judge rejected a similar proposal, saying the couple deserved to go to jail.

On three occasions last July, the Lenharts placed their son in the trunk with a flashlight and told him to look for candy while they made the 9.5-mile trip from their home to Idlewild Park in Ligonier Township, police said.

The Lenharts were charged with a felony count of child endangerment and a misdemeanor offense of reckless endangerment.

“He's remorseful for his actions, but things aren't as they were described in the police report. They were already in the park. It was more of a game with the child than anything else,” said Brian Aston, the lawyer for Jeffrey Lenhart, 26.

His wife's lawyer, Debra Jackson, said Danielle Lenhart, 24, was pleased with the outcome of the case.

“My client understands the seriousness of the charges, and basically she's thankful the judge agreed to place her on ARD,” Jackson said.

The ARD program allows defendants to have their criminal records expunged once they complete the terms of the probation.

In addition to probation, McCormick ordered the Lenharts to undergo parenting classes and follow all recommendations made by the Westmoreland County Childrens' Bureau.

After the arrest, the childrens' bureau took custody of the Lenhart's two older children, ages 6 and 4. The children, who have been living with a relative, are expected to be returned to their parents soon, Aston said.

The couple's 1-year-old son remains in their custody.

Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Calisti declined to comment on the case.

In March, Judge Rita Hathaway rejected an identical deal, saying she did not believe the Lenhart's explanation of why they put the child in the truck.

McCormick took over the case this week as part of the regular rotation leading up to criminal court trials.

http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/6500667-74/deal-judge-couple#ixzz38gza0koA