By JOHN WHITTAKER

jwhittaker@post-journal.com

A Jamestown, N.Y., man has been sentenced to at least three years in jail after pleading guilty in relation to a pair of 2019 burglaries in Warren County.

Daniel J. Harding, 46, pleaded guilty Oct. 14 to a charge of second-degree burglary – not adapted for overnight accommodation, no person present and criminal mischief in relation to a July 2019 burglary in Sugar Grove Township. Harding also pleaded guilty on a second docket to a charge of conspiracy – retail theft – taking merchandise related to a December 2019 incident in Conewango Township.

In December 2020 Harding was taken from the Chautauqua County Jail to the Warren County Jail for a preliminary hearing on the charges filed against him by the State Police at Warren.

After a couple of continuances, a bench warrant was issued for Harding in September 2021. That was the end of the case until October 2025, when Harding appeared in court and pleaded guilty.

Harding was charged with second-degree felony burglary and criminal trespass as well as misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief on the first docket. He pleaded guilty to the felony burglary charge and the misdemeanor criminal mischief charge, with Judge Maureen Skerda sentencing Harding to 30 to 60 months of confinement to satisfy the burglary charge and 6 to 12 months to satisfy the criminal mischief charge as well as a $2,000 fineOn the second docket, Harding had been charged with misdemeanor counts of retail theft and conspiracy – retail theft. To satisfy his guilty plea to conspiracy – retail theft, Harding was sentenced to between 11 months and 15 days to 2 years of confinement as well as a $500 fine.

The sentences will run concurrently. Harding has been in the Warren County Prison since October 14, 2025.

William R. Butcher, formerly of Bear Lake and now of Union City, was sentenced to 30 to 60 months of confinement and a $500 fine after pleading guilty in May to a second-degree felony charge of failure to verify address while a charge for failure to register with the Pennsylvania State Police was not prosecuted.

Other sentences in the Court of Common Pleas in Skerda’s courtroom include:

– Donald L. McCulla of Warren pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault on Sept. 15 while charges of first-degree felony aggravated assault – attempts to cause serious bodily injury with extreme indifference and harassment were not prosecuted. McCulla was sentenced to two years probation and a $500 fine.

– Justin T. Walters of Clarendon was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to simple assault, with a charge of terroristic threats not prosecuted. Walters will also pay a $500 fine.

– Allison A. Nietupski of Pittsfield was sentenced to six months probation and $1,300 in fines after pleading guilty to DUI: highest rate of alcohol (BAC .16% or higher) – first offense.