March 27, 2018- Commonwealth v. Travon Johnson:  Trayvon Johnson can add charges of Kidnapping of a Minor, Aggravated Assault of a child and illegal Possession of a Firearm to the growing list of charges he will be facing in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.  At the conclusion of three preliminary hearings held at the Dauphin County Prison this morning, Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge Paul Zozos ruled the Commonwealth presented enough evidence to forward three more cases to the County Court for trial. 

MDJ Zozos this morning heard testimony concerning Johnson’s alleged kidnapping of an eighteen month old baby.  Harrisburg Police Detective Richard Iachini testified that the mother of the baby called the police to report the kidnapping on the morning of March 11, 2018.  The mother had left her baby with Johnson the previous evening as she attended an out of town concert.  While at the concert, Johnson began sending the mother increasingly hostile text messages.  When she return home from the concert and tried to pick up her daughter, Johnson would not return the daughter and concealed the whereabouts of the child.  Det. Iachini testified that while he was interviewing the mother, Johnson called her threatening both the mother and her baby.  At one point, Johnson threated to “pay drug fiends to harm the child.”  Ultimately, the baby was recovered hours later when Johnson gave the baby to a family member to return to the mother.  Upon seeing the baby, Det. Iachini immediately noticed numerous bruises on the baby’s head, face and ear.  In this case, Johnson faces kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, concealing the whereabouts of a child, endangering the welfare of children, and terroristic threats. 

The second case heard by MDJ Zozos involved Johnson's illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, theft by receiving a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a fugitive.  In this case, Harrisburg Police Officer Brian Henry testified that when Johnson was apprehended on a warrant related to the kidnapping case, a firearm was found on Johnson’s person.  The firearm had been reported stolen after a burglary that occurred in February, 2018.

The final case involved a domestic incident that occurred on February 3, 2018, in the 300 block of Crescent Street in the City of Harrisburg.  On that date, Johnson’s sister called the police after Johnson placed a hand gun to her head and threatened to kill her.  She also reported to the police that prior to putting the handgun up to her head, Johnson attempted to punch her in the head.  During this morning’s hearing before MDJ Zozos, Johnson’s sister, changed her story and claimed that family members told her after the incident that she was mistaken about the handgun and that the object put up to her head was actually a cell phone.  However, Officer Daril Foose testified that she interviewed an eyewitness at the scene who not only confirmed the object was a handgun but also described in detail the type of handgun he saw used by Johnson during the incident.  In this case, Johnson is facing charges of persons not to possess a firearm, simple assault and terroristic threats.                     

Johnson is already awaiting trial on charges for illegal possession of a firearm, theft by receiving a stolen firearm, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, as well as, a separate case involving simple assault and terroristic threats.  He remains incarcerated at the Dauphin County Prison without bail pending his trial.  Chief Deputy District Attorney Seán M. McCormack handled today’s preliminary hearings on behalf of the Commonwealth.   

NOTE:  These charges are mere allegations at this time and Travon Johnson is presumed innocent.