The Pennsylvania Superior Court, in an opinion issued last week, rejected attempts by Justin James Centra, 45, of Clearfield to overturn his convictions and lengthy prison sentence for the sexual abuse and intimidation of two young girls.

Centra presently is serving a prison term of 18 years and three months to 42 years not only for the abuse of the girls, but also for his attempts through letters and telephone calls urging the victims to tell investigators that “no harm occurred,” according to the Superior Court decision handed down in the case.

A jury, after a three-day trial in October 2021, found Centra guilty of attempt to commit aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent exposure, terroristic threats, indecent assault, corruption of a minor, and 19 counts of intimidation of witnesses or victims, intimidation and retaliation and obstruction in child abuse cases.

Clearfield County President Judge Paul D. Cherry imposed the sentence on Centra, who remains incarcerated in the State Correctional Institution Albion, Erie County.

The Superior Court in 2023 upheld the jury’s decision, but Centra responded by seeking relief through a petition filed by Clearfield attorney Paul Charles Colavecchi, which raised 24 claims alleging his trial counsel was ineffective.

The defendant, for instance, charged that his trial attorney did not inform him about the nature of the evidence that was to be used by the prosecution.

The Superior Court panel reviewing his case stated that Centra alleged “he was unaware of any of the evidence of the case prior to trial and felt he was unprepared in his own defense.”

He contended the trial attorney did not take steps to obtain copies of records compiled by Clearfield County Children, Youth and Family Services, concerning a prior incident.

During a hearing on the ineffectiveness charges, Centra’s trial attorney answered his complaints.

The attorney emphasized he provided “discovery materials” (outlining the evidence to be used against him) during frequent meetings with Centra leading up to trial.

The Superior Court panel indicated that trial counsel met with Centra at least four times and provided him with evidence during each meeting, but Centra wanted to hear recordings made during the investigation.

His trial attorney said he didn’t have the equipment to provide recordings of the many alleged conversations that Centra wanted to hear.

Also, the trial attorney did not seek child welfare records which Centra felt were essential to his defense.

His trial attorney concluded CYFS records of a long-ago case were irrelevant to the incidents for he was being tried.

Judge Cherry ruled Centra did not establish his trial attorney was ineffective.

The Superior Court panel reviewing the Centra case included Judges Mary Jane Bowes, Jack A. Panella and Correale F. Stevens.

The panel stated it agreed with Cherry’s conclusion.

The trial attorney testified he met with Centra multiple times prior to trial and “shared all discovery materials during each of those meetings,” the appeals court panel pointed out.

The panel stated Centra did not specify what discovery materials he did not receive, or explain how having copies of the materials would have changed the outcome of the trial.

Centra also failed to “establish the purpose of the stale CYFS records beyond a bald assertion that he believed they would have been tremendously helpful to his case.”

The appeals court panel stated it had “no reason to conclude that (Judge Cherry) erred” in dismissing Centra’s petition.

Although it was not part of the appeal, Centra was declared a sexually violent predator under Megan’s Law, which carries with it a lifetime registration requirement.