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Christopher Young, 34, bombarded the witness with calls and texts, begging them not to testify before showing up at their Schuylkill County home in the middle of the night, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and state police.
"I Take Death"
Young became increasingly desperate as the witness' court date approached, as detailed in the affidavit of probable obtained by Daily Voice on Wednesday, March 5. Over the course of three hours on Feb. 24, he called the witness 32 times and sent 10 text messages, plus another 12 calls to their parents.
“You’re backing me into a corner and you only give me one way out... I take death,” he allegedly texted.
As police prepared to involuntarily commit Young for mental health intervention, he refused to cooperate and kept trying to reach the witness, according to the affidavit.
Lurking In The Woods With A Gun
That night, state police pinged Young’s phone near the witness' home and spotted his dark pickup truck creeping past before disappearing into the woods.
Minutes later, officers saw movement behind the house. Young, dressed in all black, emerged from the trees.
Troopers ordered him to stop, and he put his hands in the air, officials said.
On him, they found a loaded 9mm Glock handgun with 11 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, along with a folding knife, according to the affidavit.
Young was arrested at 11:46 p.m. and taken to Reading Hospital, where he was involuntarily committed.
Suspended Without Pay
Attorney General Dave Sunday called Young’s actions a disturbing and deliberate attempt to influence a serious police matter.
Young was charged with:
- Felony intimidation of a witness.
- Misdemeanor stalking.
- Misdemeanor loitering and prowling at night.
A judge denied him bail, calling him a danger to himself and others.
Young, a trooper since 2017 assigned to Troop L, Hamburg, has been suspended without pay, state police said.
The child abuse investigation remains ongoing, authorities added.
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