RICHLAND TWP., Pa. (EYT) — Two local men are facing felony charges after they allegedly chased a group of teenagers and then robbed them at gunpoint following a crash in Richland Township, Clarion County.
Online court documents filed today at Magisterial District Judge Amy Long Turk’s office indicate that Clarion-based State Police filed multiple felony charges against 25-year-old Kenton Llammar Pinson, of Clarion, and 19-year-old Bradley Richard Elder, of Emlenton.
According to a criminal complaint, Clarion-based Trooper Hotchkiss was assigned to conduct a follow-up investigation involving a robbery that occurred after a vehicle crash on July 16 in which the victims were forcibly removed from their vehicle and items were removed from them and the vehicle at gunpoint.
The complaint states that the victims — a 17-year-old male, an 18-year-old male, and a 17-year-old female — were taken to UPMC Northwest for treatment, and troopers from PSP Franklin were at the hospital to interview them.
During the interview, the 17-year-old male victim told the Franklin-based State Troopers that they met up with Kenton Pinson and Bradley Elder and others at the Sunoco Gas Station in Knox, Pa. They all went to a park in Knox and then returned to the Sunoco Gas Station. According to the 17-year-old male, he and the other two victims left the Sunoco and traveled east on State Route 338.
The complaint states that Pinson and Elder also left the Sunoco and followed the victims in Pinson’s black Chevrolet Impala. Elder was operating the Chevrolet and passed the 17-year-old male’s vehicle and then stopped in front of it on Route 338.
The 17-year-old male advised troopers that he turned around and traveled back west on Route 338 and proceeded to go through the intersection of Route 208 and Route 338 at a high rate of speed while being chased by the Chevrolet for approximately 10 miles before he lost control of his vehicle and crashed, the complaint indicates.
The 17-year-old victim stated that Pinson and Elder pulled him and the 18-year-old male victim from the windows of the car and held them down at gunpoint while Pinson removed $120.00 and a pocket knife from him and Elder removed cigarettes from the car, the complaint continues.
According to the 17-year-old male, he and the 18-year-old male were warned that if they told anyone, “they would kill them,” according to the complaint.
On July 16, a traffic stop was conducted on the Chevrolet Impala. The vehicle was occupied by Pinson, Elder, and two females. A search of the vehicle revealed two “Black 33” packs of cigarettes and a gray folding pocket knife which was identified by the 17-year-old male as the one taken from him, the complaint states.
A second interview was conducted with the 17-year-old male and the 18-year-old male at the Clarion State Police Station. Both victims related the details of the incident which was consistent with the statements provided on the date of the incident. The victims identified the defendants as Pinson and Elder, the complaint indicates.
Surveillance video was obtained from Sunoco Gas Station. The video is consistent with the information provided by the 17-year-old male detailing the encounter with the three victims and Pinson and Elder at the gas station. The video shows Pinson and Elder following the victim’s vehicle out of the parking lot as well as the victim’s vehicle traveling through the intersection of Route 208 and Route 338 at a high rate of speed while being followed closely by another vehicle, the complaint continues.
Pinson and Elder were interviewed at the Clarion State Police Station. Both men admitted to being at the scene of the collision but provided conflicting stories as to what occurred at the scene, according to the complaint.
The following criminal charges were filed against Pinson and Elder on Wednesday, October 18, at Judge Turk’s office:
- Robbery-Inflict Threat Immediate Bodily Injury, Felony 2
- Conspiracy — Robbery-Inflict Threat Immediate Bodily Injury, Felony 2
- Terroristic Threats W/ Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
- Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1
- Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
Pinson is currently lodged in the Clarion County Jail on assault and theft charges from an earlier incident.
Elder is currently lodged in the Clarion County Jail on drug charges from an earlier incident.
Court documents indicate both men are awaiting preliminary hearings.
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