CLARION: A 19-year-old Clarion man accused of forcing his way into his brother’s apartment and causing significant property damage will avoid jail time after being sentenced to probation and court-ordered counseling.

Logan Jonathan Jay entered guilty pleas on December 17, 2025, to felony criminal trespass for breaking into a structure and misdemeanor criminal mischief for damaging property. The plea resolved a case stemming from a late-night disturbance last summer in Clarion Borough.

On January 21, Jay was sentenced to one year of probation for each conviction, to be served consecutively, resulting in a total of two years under supervision. Prior to sentencing, his defense attorney, John Patrick Troese, asked the court to order a mental health evaluation along with a drug and alcohol assessment, arguing that substance abuse played a significant role in Jay’s behavior. Troese described Jay as cooperative and respectful during their interactions.

President Judge Sara J. Seidle-Patton addressed Jay directly before imposing sentence, expressing concern that someone his age was already facing felony charges. She told him the court viewed counseling as an opportunity to change course and emphasized the importance of following through with treatment.

In addition to probation, the court ordered Jay to undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and to comply with any recommended treatment plans. He must also complete the Adult Crossroads Program, perform 50 hours of community service, and have no contact with the victims or their families.

Several more serious charges were withdrawn by prosecutors as part of the plea agreement, including a first-degree felony burglary count involving overnight accommodations with a person present, two additional counts of criminal mischief, and a summary harassment charge.

According to the criminal complaint, Clarion Borough Police were first called to a South Street residence around 11:55 p.m. on July 1 after a reported disturbance. Officers spoke with a man who said his brother, identified as Logan Jonathan Jay, arrived at his apartment and began yelling from the porch. When the man refused to let him inside, Jay allegedly kicked in the front door, damaging the deadbolt latch and part of the door frame. Once inside, Jay reportedly threw shoes around the apartment before being pushed back outside.

Police said Jay then moved to a side window and began striking it. The window contained an air-conditioning unit, which fell into the apartment and sustained heavy damage. The resident told officers he warned Jay that he was calling 911, after which Jay left the area. Officers attempted to locate him at a nearby residence but were unsuccessful.

Roughly two and a half hours later, around 2:30 a.m., police were dispatched back to the same address after Jay allegedly returned. This time, investigators say he opened an unlocked window, tore down blinds, bent a curtain rod, and threw items into the apartment, including a soda can, blueberries, and pieces of the blinds. He also allegedly threw objects at the front door.

Officers located Jay walking on a nearby sidewalk and took him into custody. Court records show he was lodged in the Clarion County Jail following a preliminary arraignment on July 2 at approximately 4:45 a.m., with bail set at $50,000 monetary.