Court upholds sentence for convicted sex abuser

Centra serving 18 to 42 years for assault of preteen girls

The conviction and lengthy prison sentence of a Clearfield man for the sexual assault of two preteen girls has been upheld by the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Justin James Centra, 43, was sentenced in 2022 by Clearfield County Judge Paul E. Cherry to a prison term of 18 years, three months to 42 years after being convicted of attempted aggravated assault of a child, three counts of indecent assault, indecent exposure, corruption of minors, terroristic threats and multiple counts of intimidation of prospective witnesses, as well as intimidation, retaliation or obstruction in child abuse cases.

Centra is housed in the State Correctional Institution at Albion in Erie County.

Centra's activities came to light in 2020 when Lawrence Township Police received a call reporting the sexual abuse of a minor.

A mother reported that her daughter returned home in the middle of the night from a visit with a relative.

The child related that while sleeping she was awakened by Centra, who was attempting to sexually assault her.

The child called a friend to take her home.

The victim was taken to a Child Advocacy Center for an interview and, while the interview was underway, a second victim contacted the mother to report that Centra had been abusing her for several years.

That child was also interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center.

After the interviews, police arrested Centra.

According to the Superior Court opinion, within days after the arrest, it was alleged that Centra began an effort to have the victims retract their stories.

He wrote 16 letters and made 20 phone calls to the second reported victim asking her to report to officials that her story of abuse was a lie.

Between Aug. 28, 2020, and Dec. 15, 2020, he made additional telephone calls attempting to have the victims report their stories were lies.

On Feb. 10, 2021, police filed additional charges against Centra of intimidation of witnesses or victims and intimidation, retaliation or obstruction in child abuse cases.

The trial judge, at the request of the prosecution, consolidated the charges of abuse and intimidation.

Centra, through attorney Patrick Levelle of DuBois, appealed his conviction and sentence to the state Superior Court, arguing the judge improperly combined both sets of charges for trial.

The appeal also complained that the judge erred in his instructions to the jury.

Superior Court Judges Jack A. Panella, Judith F. Olson and Correale F. Stevens ruled that the consolidation of the two sets of charges was reasonable because the assault-related charges established a motive for the ongoing attempts by Centra to intimidate the witnesses.

The Superior Court opinion pointed out that the alleged attempts to intimidate the witnesses began four days after the assault charges were filed and were admissible "to show consciousness of guilt."

The three-judge panel also concluded that Cherry's jury instructions were proper and Centra's sentence was within "statutorily prescribed legal parameters" for a first-degree felony grade of intimidation of a witness.