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 first part of the court documents can be found here: Court Documents: Woman Makes Significant Accusations Against Erie County Executive

The second part of the court documents can be found here: Court Documents Detail Accusations Against Erie County Executive

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

The court documents read as follows:

Temporary Protection from Abuse Order | In the Court of Common Please of Erie County, Pennsylvania 

Plaintiff V. Defendant (Brenton Davis) 

Caution: Weapon Present on the Property 

The Court Hereby Finds: That it has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter, and Defendant will be provided with reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard. 

The Court Hereby Orders: 

  • Defendant shall not abuse, harass, stalk, threaten, or attempt or threaten to use physical force against any of the above persons in any place where they might be found. 
  • Except for such contact with the minor child/ren as may be permitted under Paragraph 5 of this order; Defendant shall not contact Plaintiff, or any other person protected under this order, by telephone or by any other means, including through third person. 
  • Additionally finding of this order are set forth below. 

Order Effective Date April 20, 2023 Order Expiration Date UNTIL OTHERWISE MODIFIED OR TERMINATED BY THIS COURT

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT 

Defendant is herby notified that failure to obey this order may result in arrest as set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. 6113 and that violation of the order may result in charge of indirect criminal contempt as set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. 6114. Consent of Plaintiff to Defendant's return to the residence shall not invalidate this order, which can only be changed or modified through the filing of appropriate court papers for that purpose. 23 Pa.C.S. 6108 (g). If Defendant is required to relinquish any firearms, other weapons, ammunition, or any firearm license, those items must be relinquished to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the service of this order. As an alternative, Defendant may relinquish any firearm, other weapon or ammunition listed herein to a third party provided Defendant and the third party provided Defendant and the third party first comply with all requirements to obtain a safekeeping permit. If, due to their current location, firearms, other weapons, or ammunition cannot reasonably be retrieved within the time for relinquishment, Defendant shall provide an affidavit to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency listing the firearms, other weapons, or ammunition and their location no later than 24 hours after the service of this order. Defendant is further notified that violation of this order may subject him/her to state charges and penalties under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code under 18 Pa.C.S. 6105 and to federal criminal charges and penalties under 18 U.S.C. Pa.C.S. 922 (g)(8) and the Violence Against Women Act, 18 U.S.C. 2261-2262. 

AND NOW, on 20th Day of April, 2023 upon consideration of that attached Petition for Protection From Abuse, the court hereby enters the following Temporary Order: 

Plaintiff's request for a temporary protection order is granted. 

  1. Defendant shall not abuse, harass, stalk, threaten, or attempt to threaten to use physical force against any of the above persons in any place where they might be found.  
  2. Defendant is evicted and excluded from the residence or any other permanent or temporary residence where Plaintiff or any other person protected under this order may live. Plaintiff is granted exclusive possession of the residence. Defendant shall have no right or privilege to enter or be present on the premises of Plaintiff or any other person protected under this order. 
  3. Defendant is prohibited from having ANY CONTACT with Plaintiff, or any other person protected under this order either directly or indirectly, at any location, including but not limited to any contact at Plaintiff's or other protected party's school, business, or place of employment. 
  4. Defendant shall not contact Plaintiff, or any other person protected under this order, by telephone or by any other means, including through third person. 
  5. FIREARMS, OTHER WEAPONS, OR AMMUNITION RESTRICTIONS
    • Defendant is prohibited from possessing or acquiring any firearms for the duration of this order. 
    • Defendant is directed to relinquish to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency any firearm, other weapon, or ammunition listed in Attachment A to Temporary Order, which is incorporated herein by reference, under Defendant's control or in Defendant's possession. 
    • Defendant may relinquish any firearm, other weapon or ammunition to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency. As an alternative, Defendant may relinquish firearms, other weapons, or ammunition to a third party provided Defendant and the third party provided Defendant and the third party first comply with all requirements to obtain a safekeeping permit. Defendant must relinquish any firearm, other weapon, ammunition, or any firearm license ordered to be relinquished  no later than 24 hours after service of this order. If, due to their current location, firearms, other weapons, or ammunition cannot reasonably be retrieved within the time for relinquishment, Defendant shall provide an affidavit to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency listing the firearms, other weapons, or ammunition and their location no later than 24 hours after the service of this 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.
  6. The following additional relief is granted: 
    •  Defendant is prohibited from stalking, as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1, or harassing, as described in 18 Pa.C.S. 2709, the following family and household members of Plaintiff: 
    • Other Relief: 
    • Defendant is ordered to pay the costs of this action, including filing and service fees. 
    • Defendant is ordered to pay Plaintiff's reasonable attorney's fees. 
  7.  The Pennsylvania State Police, the municipal police, or the sheriff shall accompany Plaintiff to  his or her residence to retrieve personal belongings or accompany Plaintiff while the petition or order is served on Defendant. 
  8. A certified copy of this order shall be provided to the sheriff or police department where Plaintiff resides and any other agency specified here after: 
    • Millcreek TWP PD
  9.  The sheriff, police or other law enforcement agencies are directed to serve Defendant with a copy of the petition, any order issued, and the order for hearing, Petitioner will inform the designated authority of any addresses, other than Defendant's residence, where Defendant can be served. 
  10. THIS ORDER SUPERSEDES ANY PRIOR PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER OBTAINED BY THE SAME PLAINTIFF AGAINST THE SAME DEFENDANT. 
  11.  THIS ORDER APPLIES IMMEDIATELY TO DEFENDANT AND SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL OTHERWISE MODIFIED OR TERMINATED BY THIS COURT AFTER NOTICE AND HEARING. 

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT 

Defendant is hereby notified that failure to obey this order may result in arrest as set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. 6113, and that violation of the order may result in charge of indirect criminal contempt as set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. 6114, Consent of Plaintiff to Defendant's return to the residence shall not invalidate this order, which can only be changed or modified through the filing or appropriate court papers for that purpose. 23 Pa.C.S. 6108 (g). If Defendant is required to relinquish any firearms, other weapons, ammunition, or any firearm license, those items must be relinquished to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the service of this order. As an alternative, Defendant may relinquish firearms, other weapons, or ammunition listed herein to a third party provided Defendant and the third party provided Defendant and the third party first comply with all requirements to obtain a safekeeping permit. If, due to their current location, firearms, other weapons, or ammunition cannot reasonably be retrieved within the time for relinquishment, Defendant shall provide an affidavit to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency listing the firearms, other weapons, or ammunition and their location no later than 24 hours after the service of this order.  Defendant is further notified that violation of this order may subject him/her to state charges and penalties under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code under 18 Pa.C.S. 61052 and to federal criminal charges and penalties under 18 U.S.C. 922 (g)(8) and the Violence Against Women Act, 18 U.S.C. 2261-2262/ 

NOTICE TO SHERIFF, POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS 

This order shall be enforced by the police department or sheriff who has jurisdiction over Plaintiff's residence OR any location where a violation of this order occurs OR where Defendant may be located. If Defendant violated Paragraphs 1 through 5 of this order, defendant shall be arrested on the charge of indirect criminal contempt. An arrest for violation of this order may be made without warrant, based solely on probable cause, whether or not the violation is committed in the presence of a police officer or sheriff. 

Subsequent to an arrest, the law enforcement officer or sheriff shall seize all firearms, other weapons, or ammunition in Defendant's possession which were used or threatened to be used during the violation of the protection order or during prior incidents of abuse and any other firearms in Defendant's possession. Any firearm, other weapon, ammunition, or any firearm license must be delivered to the sheriff or the appropriate law enforcement agency, which sheriff or agency shall maintain possession of the firearms, other weapons, or ammunition until further order of this court, unless the weapon(s) are evidence of a crime, in which case, they shall remain with the law enforcement agency whose officer or sheriff made the arrest. 

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 review.