A Bradford Township man was convicted Tuesday in McKean County Court of two charges stemming from allegations he was shooting a gun in his neighborhood.
Richard D. Yovichin II, 59, was found guilty by a jury of recklessly endangering another person and propulsion of missiles onto roadway, District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reported.
Yovichin was found not guilty of a charge of disorderly conduct, she said.
Describing the action for which he was charged, Shaffer stated, “On Dec. 20, 2017, Bradford Township Police responded to South Avenue within the township for a call of gun shots in the area,” Shaffer stated. “Neighbors reported to police they saw the defendant shooting a gun towards the roadway, in the direction of other homes.”
The charges were filed by Bradford Township Police Chief Robert Shipman.
Assistant District Attorney Jerry Grill prosecuted the case, and Ridgway attorney John Thomas represented Yovichin.
Yovichin will be sentenced May 9.
Court documents filed at the time he was first charged indicated that Yovichin, who was living at 662 South Ave., shot a rifle from his driveway toward residences and property directly across the road. Security camera footage allegedly showed Yovichin carrying a long gun and pointing it toward U.S. Route 219 and toward houses across the street, and multiple witnesses reported hearing and/or seeing shots being fired.
A second case against Yovichin — also for allegations of harassing conduct toward neighbors — is still pending, said Shaffer.
The second case was filed shortly after the first, and he faces 21 counts including stalking, terroristic threats, retaliation against a witness or victim, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal mischief.
According to the criminal filed in the second case, Yovichin is accused of action including pointing a gun at a neighbor, sounding a game call at neighbors, shining a laser or light at neighbors, piling snow at the end of his driveway so high neighbors could not see to pull out, making a gun with his fingers, painting things on snow banks facing neighbors’ homes and growling at neighbor children.
