Anthony pleads guilty but with mental illness
A Warren man has pled “Guilty but Mentally Ill” to three sex offenses against a four-year-old girl.
Timothy Allen Anthony, 30, 109 West St., was charged by City of Warren police back in September with over 80 charges after he admitted to molesting the victim and being found to have taken “graphic” photos of her.
Those charges were consolidated by the Warren County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday to three charges: Photograph/film/depict on computer sex act – knowingly or permitting child – a first degree felony – child pornography and indecent assault person less than 13 years of age.
An additional 49 counts of child pornography and 35 counts of photograph/film/depict on computer sex act – knowingly depicts on computer, photo, etc. were withdrawn as part of that consolidation.
Anthony subsequently pled “Guilty but Mentally Ill” to the three remaining charges before Judge Gregory Hammond on Thursday.
According to state law, a “Guilty but Mentally Ill” plea would indicate that “the defendant was mentally ill at the time of the offense to which the plea is entered.”
The code describes mentally ill as “One who as a result of mental disease or defect, lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.”
According to the DA’s office, a hearing will be held and an evaluation will take place prior to sentencing.
“The guidelines stay the same; only the location of confinement can change,” District Attorney Rob Greene explained. “It is up to the Judge, but the Judge can sentence to SCI (state correctional institution) OR a locked facility for the mentally ill.”
Police say in the affidavit that Anthony admitted to molesting the girl “as a test, to make sure that he did not get an erection.”
Police subsequently obtained a search warrant for his cell phone, which was sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Lab in Meadville.
“A search of the device resulted in graphic images of the victim being found, sexual in nature,” the affidavit states. “These images were found to be taken by” Anthony.
Police said a total of 87 images of child pornography were found on the phone.