WEST CHESTER >> A Chester County man was sentenced to state prison for a series of burglaries at Amish-owned businesses in in Chester and Lancaster counties.
Jesse Lewis Johnson, 30, of Sadsbury, had pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary, and single counts of robbery, simple assault, flight to avoid apprehension and fleeing and eluding police in January. His sentence of 71/2 to 15 years behind bars was dependent on whether he paid restitution to his victims. If he did not, he would have faced trial and possible additional time behind bars.
But his attorney, Marissa Ramsay, and the prosecutor in the case, Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Morgan, reported to Chester County Court Judge Patrick Carmody that the terms of the plea agreement had been met and he was ready to be sentenced.
Johnson told Carmody that he had made a payment of $19,500 in restitution to the 21 businesses and two residents that he had stolen from. He had also written a letter of apology to the victims.
Johnson was arrested in Maryland in March 2017 after a manhunt by state and local police following his identification as the person responsible for the string of burglaries. Police said at the time that his method was to enter unoccupied businesses and barns in the early morning hour and take power tools and cash.
In Chester County, the incidents occurred in Sadsbury, West Caln, and Lower Oxford. The crimes in Lancaster were in eastern municipalities along the county border.
The burglaries began in December 2016 and ended in March 2017, after Johnson was recognized by an Amish owner at the Hillside Garden as the person who had robbed him before. Johnson reportedly entered the farm store on March 7, 2017 when the owner was present, walked up to the counter, opened the cash register and took about $100.
After the owner tried to stop him and ask for the money back, Johnson fled the scene after driving his car at another family member. Police issued a release asking for help in locating him later that month.
He has been held in county prison on $1 million bail since his extradition from Maryland.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544.
