A Johnstown man being charged for allegedly lying to police about a homicide case in the City Thursday Night, and what a prosecutor says about a role a witness statement can play in an investigation.
Reporter Brock Owens has been following this case since it first unfolded and has the latest
22 Year old Anthony Cobaugh was found dead on the front porch of a home along D Street in the West End of Johnstown Thursday Night.
Police say Ethan Nowak was questioned by police as a witness of the killing and stated a 19 year old man pulled the trigger
But authorities say that man later turned himself in to police giving his own statement of how the homicide happened before investigators went back to talk with Nowak who then allegedly admitted he lied to protect his friend.
Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer speaks on how witness statements affect an investigation.
“Those play a role in most cases. The reality is there’s not a camera everywhere, there’s not always great physical evidence, and eye witnesses can fill in the gaps of what the other evidence does or does not show.”
Nowak now faces one felony charge of hindering apprehension along with a false report charge.
“We want to get it right and we want to get it right every time. And if there’s an instance where someone comes and recants what they have told us, the ethical and moral thing to do is to make it right as soon as you can.
In this instance we were able to do that. It’s unfortunate the events unfolded the way they did, but again law enforcement wants to get it right.”
There is currently no one in custody for the killing as the investigation continues.
“The homicide from the other evening is being investigated with all the force and vigor that the Johnstown Police Department has.”