(WJET\/WFXP)\u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
North East parents arrested after child found wandering street naked <\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u201cextremely filthy\u201d by police. The child was not reported as missing until an hour and a half after they had been found.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n