Erie News Now learned from multiple sources on Thursday, April 20th, that Erie County Executive Brenton Davis is involved in alleged court action. 

A woman claiming to be an ex-girlfriend of Erie County Executive Brenton Davis requested and obtained a temporary protection order against him, claiming he abused her and her children. 

The Judges in Court of Common Pleas of Erie County have recused themselves from the matter. 

The court documents read as follows: 

ORDER 

AND NOW, to wit, this 20th day of April, 2023, in the interest of justice and to avoid any appearance of impropriety, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that all Judges in the Court of Common Pleas  of Erie County, Pennsylvania are recused from the above-captioned matters. 

By the Court: 

Joseph M. Walsh, |||, President Judge 
John J. Trucilla, Administrative Judge 

Notice of Hearing and Order 

YOU HAVE BEEN SUED IN COURT. If you wish to defend against the claim set forth in the following papers, you must appear at the hearing scheduled herein. If you fail to do so, the case may proceed against you and a FINAL order may be entered against you granting the relief requested in the petition. In particular, you may be evicted from your residence, be prohibited from possessing any firearm, other weapon, ammunition, or any firearm license, and lose other important rights, including custody of your children. A protection order granted by a court may be considered in subsequent proceedings under Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, including child custody proceedings under Chapter 53 (relating to custody) and Child Protective Services Law proceedings under Chapter 63 (related to juvenile matters). 

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for the 24th Day of April, 2023 at 10:30 AM, in Courtroom E - the Honorable Robert L. Boyer at Erie County Court House, 140 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16501. 

If an order of protection has been entered, you MUST obey the order until it is modified or terminated by the court after notice and hearing. If you disobey this order, the police or sheriff may arrest you as set forth in 23 Pa. C.S. 6113. Violation of this order may subject you to a charge of indirect criminal contempt as set forth in 23 Pa. C.C. 6114. Violation may also subject you to prosecution and criminal penalties under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. Under federal law, 18 U.S.C. 2265, this order is enforceable anywhere in the United States, tribal lands, U.S. Territories and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. If you travel outside of the state and intentionally violate this order, you may be subject to federal criminal proceedings under the Violence Against Women Act. 18 U.S.C. 2261-2262. 

If this order directs you to relinquish any firearm, other weapon, ammunition, or ay firearm license to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency, you may do so upon service of this order. As an alternative, you may relinquish any firearm, other weapon, or ammunition listed herein to a third party provided you and the third part first comply with all requirements to obtain a safekeeping permit. 23 Pa.C.S. 6108.3. You must relinquish any firearm, other weapon, ammunition, or any firearm license listed in the order no later than 24 hours after service of the order. If, due to their current location, firearms, other weapons or ammunition cannot reasonably be retrieved within the time for relinquishment, you must provide an affidavit to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency listing the firearms, other weapons, or ammunition and their current location no later than 24 hours after service of the order. Failure to timely relinquish any firearm, other weapon, ammunition, or any firearm license shall result in a violation of this order and may result in criminal conviction under the Uniform Firearms Act, 18 Pa.C.S. 6105. 

 NOTICE: Even if this order does not direct you to relinquish firearms, you may be subject to federal firearms prohibitions and federal criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) or state firearms prohibitions and state criminal penalties under 18 Pa.C.S. 6105. 

AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 - The Court of Common Pleas of Erie County is required by law to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For information about accessible facilities and reasonable accommodations available to disabled individuals having business before the court, please contact the Court's ADA Coordinator at Erie County Court of Common Pleas, 140 West Sixth Street, Room 205, Erie, PA 16501-1030, Phone814.451.6308, TDD 814.451.6237, e-mail [email protected]. Requests should be made as soon as possible or at least three business days prior to any hearing or business before the court. 

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A LAWYER REPRESENT YOU AT THE HEARING, HOWEVER, THE COURT WILL NOT APPOINT A LAWYER FOR YOU. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AT THE AT THE HEARING, INCLUDING SUBPOENAING WITNESSES TO TESTIFY ON YOUR BEHALF. 

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE. IF YOU CANNOT FIND A LAWYER, YOU MAY HAVE TO PROCEED WITHOUT ONE. 

County Lawyer Referral Service 
ERIE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 
429 West Sixth Street
ERIE, Pennsylvania 16507
814-459-4411

Distribution to: 
PLAINTIFF 
DEFENDANT 
SHERIFF 
PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE
PFA COORDINATOR 

The Plaintiff filed the petition on behalf of herself, and listed themselves as a current or former sexual or intimate partner with the Defendant. 

The Defendant has not been involved in a criminal court action. Defendant has been determined to not be a perpetrator. 

The facts of the most recent incident of abuse are as follows: 

Approximate Date: 4/9/2023 Approximate Time 8 a.m. Place: Defendant's Home 

[The Plaintiff] went to the Defendant's home to return a hunting rifle he has left at my house since Nov.. He refused to take the rifle every time he was at my house over the past few months. He allowed my son to use it during hunting season. The rifle was at my house & not kept in a safe due to me not having one. I did not feel safe having the rifle in my home, unlocked with 2 children. I walked up to Defendant's door step, knocked on door, he did not answer. I knocked again & said please come & take your rifle. He came to the door & I handed him his unloaded rifle. I walked into his house & sat down on couch and asked him to explain what was going on. Since he blocked me from getting a hold of him to return rifle. He told me he was going to unblock me that morning. We were in Buffalo from April 6-8th together to celebrate defendant's birthday. No incidents during the trip. Got home on Sat. 4/8. Defendant then decided to block me from getting ahold of him. As I was sitting on defendant's couch he walked over to me, picked me up, threw me on the ground & dragged me by the hair approx. 20ft. He let go & I sat up. the rug was all out of place & I had rug burn on my left leg. He threatened me by saying I could go to jail for coming to his house to return his unloaded rifle. He said I would lose my job & my children would be taken away from me. I stood up & walked out the door. A few hours later I received texts from him saying if he didn't have love for my kids & I things would look a lot different right now. He proceeded to tell me to act like an adult. I felt intimidated to call law enforcement after the incident because of his past comments about the most powerful man in Erie & that he could get away with anything. He also stated I would go to jail for a min. of 7 years. 

Erie County Executive Brenton Davis's spokesperson Dennis Roddy released the following statement regarding the matter: 

Mr. Davis was awakened at 7 a.m. Easter Sunday with a loud banging at the door. He observed the plaintiff at his front door. She then forced her way into the house with a rifle that appeared to be loaded. He immediately disarmed her. 
The plaintiff informed him that she had come to return a hunting rifle that he had permitted her son to use during hunting season. At the time she appeared, he had no idea as to the origins or ownership of the weapon and was understandably concerned for his safety. The rifle could have been safely returned by a third party without disruption or implicit threats. 
After approximately 45 minutes, Mr. Davis was able to persuaded her to leave his home. He remained uncertain as to whether she was in possession of any other weapons. 
During the course of their relationship, the plaintiff's conduct became increasingly erratic. After she departed his home on Easter Sunday, Mr. Davis examined surveillance tapes of his residence and discovered that the plaintiff had come to his home, armed with the rifle, multiple times on the previous night. 
Mr. Davis had previously advised her not to come to his home. 
Mr. Davis unequivocally denies any wrongdoing. 

More information from the court documents will be provided through out the day, as we sift through them.