CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A Clarion man who recorded his meetings at the Clarion County Probation Office was sentenced yesterday to probation.
On Wednesday, May 22, President Judge James Arner sentenced 24-year-old Bruin Posiabe Abe-Emerick, of Clarion, to one year of probation on a second-degree misdemeanor count of Obstructing the Administration of Law or Other Government Functions.
Court documents indicate Abe-Emerick pleaded guilty to the above charge on April 24, 2019.
As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:
– Intercept Communications, Felony 3 (two counts)
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 4:55 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28, Clarion County Detective Wright received a call from Clarion County Probation Officer Mosely advising that Bruin Posiabe Abe-Emerick was currently at the probation office and was being arrested for a probation violation. Upon a search of Abe-Emerick’s person incident to arrest, a recording device was allegedly located in his pocket.
Detective Wright then responded to the Clarion County Probation Office in an attempt to interview Abe-Emerick.
According to the complaint, Abe-Emerick said he did not wish to speak with Detective Wright and went on to say he was already going to jail on a probation violation and just wanted to go to jail.
Detective Wright then took possession of a black Olympus VN-541PC handheld voice recorder that probation had taken from Abe-Emerick, as well as a probation report stating that when Abe-Emerick was asked if he had anything on him, he responded, “I have money, a lighter, and a recording device in my pocket,” according to the complaint.
It was explained to Abe-Emerick that it was illegal for him to record inside the probation office, and he disagreed and allegedly admitted that he had been recording probation appointments as well as appointments at Cen Clear, according to the complaint.
On September 5, Detective Wright applied for and was granted a search warrant to listen to the recordings on the black Olympus handheld recording device.
The complaint states that Detective Wright was able to locate two recordings of the meetings inside the probation office, one from June 26, which lasted 25 minutes and 46 seconds, and one from August 28, which lasted 32 minutes and 38 seconds.
The complaint notes that audio recordings of Clarion County Probation Officers were captured on both recordings without their knowledge or approval, and Abe-Emerick rang the bell at the entrance and introduced himself on both recordings.
Based on the investigation, charges were filed in Magisterial District Judge Duane L. Quinn’s office against Abe-Emerick on September 11.
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