A scheduled date in plea court last week did not result in a resolution to several felony charges lodged against a Clarendon man for allegedly violating state wiretapping laws by recording Probation Division conversations without permission.

Justin T. Walters, 41, was charged with nine counts of third-degree felony intercepting communications and one count of disclosing intercepted communications on Friday by Warren city police officers. Walters appeared in court last week before President Judge Gregory Hammond in the Court of Common Pleas, but there was no plea in Walters’ case. A settlement conference is scheduled for June 8 followed by a conference call on June 22.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, Warren police were notified of a potential wire tap violation on Jan. 30 after jail staff reviewed phone calls from Walters to his significant other. Walters allegedly described an audio recording he made during a meeting with his assigned probation officer in the Warren County Adult Probation Office in the county courthouse. Walters had allegedly been taken to the county jail after a probation violation.

“I spoke with the involved Warren County Adult Probation staff, and neither of the employees who were present for the meeting were aware of an audio recording being made, nor did they consent to a recording being made,” the affidavit states.

Officers began to review jail phone calls. In one call, Walters’ girlfriend allegedly told Walters his phone was still on record, with Walters allegedly telling her to stop the recording, with a second call later on Jan. 29 allegedly including instruction from Walters for the woman to listen to the audio recording he made. The recording was then allegedly discussed during a third phone call.

A search warrant was granted on Jan. 31 for Walters’ residence for police to retrieve the cell phone, with another search warrant granted four days later to search the contents of the phone. The affidavit states there were five audio recordings found on the phone. All five conversations, the affidavit states, were of conversations that are typical of the talks between probation officers and probationers, though the final recorded conversation, according to the affidavit, related to an alleged failed drug screen that Walters was denying.

“On Jan. 31, 2026, following the search warrant service, I met with the defendant at (the Warren County Prison),” the affidavit states. “I read the defendant his Miranda warnings and he requested an attorney, so I did not question him regarding this case. While reading over his copy of the search warrant the defendant asked me if Pennsylvania was a single-party or a two-party wire tap. I advised him that Pennsylvania is a two-party consent state, meaning that all parties in the conversation must consent.”

The following pleas were reached during plea court proceedings last week in front of Judge Hammond:

– Brian Allen, 46, of Sheffield pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a motor/other vehicle, intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered and two traffic citations. A charge of use/possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana possession – small amount/personal use were not prosecuted, nor were two additional traffic citations. Third-degree felony charges of receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking – movable property were withdrawn during earlier court hearings. The charges against Allen were filed in May 2025 by Warren city police following an incident in March 2024 in Warren.

– James R. Sorensen, 45, of Warren pleaded guilty to third-degree misdemeanor simple assault with a second-degree count of simple assault and a harassment charge not prosecuted. Sorensen was charged in October 2025 by Warren city police officers. A second-degree felony strangulation charge was withdrawn during earlier court proceedings.

– Adam R. J. Sarver, 22, of Clarendon pleaded guilty to simple assault while charges of disorderly conduct engaged in fighting and harassment were not prosecuted. Sarver was charged Oct. 31 by Warren city police after an alleged incident Sept. 18 in Warren.