(WJET/WFXP)– The Erie man accused of endangering the welfare of children in his care in May 2025, after one of them was found wandering along a North East street naked and filthy and two more were found living in filthy conditions, has pleaded guilty.
According to court records, 23-year-old Samuel Bartlebaugh pleaded guilty to one count of felony recklessly endangering the welfare of children during his trial that started on February 2.
Assistant Erie County District Attorney Shane Kaliszewski said Bartlebaugh agreed to a sentence of 11.5 to 23 months in prison, with probation to be decided by the judge at his sentencing as part of a plea deal.
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In exchange, prosecutors agreed not pursue three counts of felony unlawful restraint, two counts of felony endangering the welfare of a child, three counts of misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person and one count of endangering the welfare of children.
Bartlebaugh was arrested along with his girlfriend, 31-year-old Elizabeth Pohl of North East, on May 27, 2025, after one of her children was found wandering non-verbal, naked, and described as“extremely filthy” by police. The child was not reported as missing until an hour and a half after they had been found.
That led to police visiting the home she shared with Bartlebaugh, who was taken into custody when police found two other children, ages 2 and 3 at the time, in a similar condition and made to share a room filled with garbage, feces and debris with no beds.
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Pohl was sentenced to 36-72 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release on January 21 after pleading guilty to three counts of first-degree felony endangering the welfare of a child.
Bartlebaugh’s sentencing is set for April 13 before Judge David Ridge.
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