Multi-Agency Search Ends with Arrest of New Bethlehem Man; Six Counts of Child Endangerment Filed

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published April 30, 2016 4:10 pm
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NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) – A New Bethlehem man is facing child endangerment and related charges after unlawfully taking his children from their grandparents’ home and placing them in a vehicle while he was allegedly intoxicated.

According to a criminal complaint, New Bethlehem Borough Police filed criminal charges against 32-year-old Steven Jon Kunselman, of New Bethlehem.

The complaint states that around 9:00 p.m. on April 29, Officer Spencer, of the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department, responded to a report of an assault at a local bar. He spoke to the victim who stated that he was assaulted by Steven Jon Kunselman.

During the investigation, it was learned that Kunselman came into the bar and went into the girl’s restroom to find his ex-girlfriend. The victim informed Kunselman that he was not permitted in the establishment and asked him to leave. An altercation occurred at the back door of the bar, and Kunselman physically assaulted the victim, the complaint indicates.

Kunselman left the bar in a vehicle, and Officer Spencer discovered that “Kunselman was in an intoxicated state and went to his ex-girlfriend’s parent’s house in Mayport in an attempt to get his children. Officers Peck and Spencer went to the grandparents’ residence. The grandparents told the officers that Kunselman was not allowed on the property and attempted to get his children by yelling in the windows. Kunselman was told to leave, but he eventually talked his son into unlocking the door; at this point, he took all three children and placed them in a vehicle without securing them in the required seats. Kunselman then reportedly sped off,” according to the complaint.

“The three children’s information was collected, and the grandparents mentioned that one of the children had a life-threatening condition that required treatment every four hours. The grandparents feared that Kunselman — being in an altered state of mind due to alcohol — could not provide the necessary treatments and possibly did not possess the required medical device,” the complaint continues.

The officers contacted Clarion-based State Police for assistance and issued a BOLO for Kunselman. Authorities coordinated with the PSP Center for Missing Children and were able to issue an Amber Alert for Clarion and Armstrong counties. All three children were entered into NCIC (National Crime Information Center) as endangered and missing, the complaint states.

Authorities conducted searches of the New Bethlehem, South Bethlehem, Hawthorn, Porter Township, and other various areas looking for the children and Kunselman.

New Bethlehem Police Department attempted to contact Kunselman via a phone call and texting. Kunselman did not answer his phone, but he did text Officer Peck off and on. Eventually, he allegedly told Officer Peck to “(expletive) off, that (he) was taking his children south and that he was blocking this number.” Verizon Wireless was contacted during this text conversation, and Officer Peck was able to get several pings of Kunselman’s location. This was helpful in getting a general search area established. Acting on several leads, authorities were able to determine a possible location for Kunselman on Truittsburg Road, according to the complaint.

An interagency effort was able to pinpoint this residence, and Kunselman answered the door. His three children were found in the upstairs bedroom, one sleeping in a clothes basket and the other two on makeshift beds. Upon a plain view search, a marijuana pipe was found near the children. There were also two more children found in the home belonging to the homeowner. The owner was contacted, and they came home to take custody of their children, the complaint states.

Kunselman’s children were picked up by the grandparents at the Truittsburg Road residence, and Kunselman was taken into custody by New Bethlehem Police Department for numerous charges including a warrant out of Clarion County for failure to appear.

Kunselman was transported to the New Bethlehem Police Station where — for undisclosed reasons — he requested to be seen by EMS. Kunselman was read his Miranda warnings, and he allegedly admitted that the pipe was his “marijuana pipe” and that he knew he would be getting charged for it, the complaint indicates.

Station 4 EMS evaluated Kunselman, and he wanted to seek further medical treatment. He was transported to ACMH Hospital for further evaluation and was escorted by Officers Peck and Spencer.

According to the criminal complaint, Kunselman is facing the following charges:

  • Simple Assault
  • Harassment, Summary
  • Criminal Trespass, Misdemeanor, two counts
  • Disorderly Conduct, Summary
  • Endangering Welfare of Children, Misdemeanor, six counts
  • Prohibited Acts, Misdemeanor

No other information is available at this time.

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