A devastating sentence has been handed down to Dr. Johnnie Barto, a 71-year-old Johnstown pediatrician, who has been sentenced to 79 to 158 years in prison for sexually assaulting 31 children over many years. The sentencing took place in Cambria County, with Attorney General Josh Shapiro standing in solidarity with the survivors of Barto’s heinous crimes.
The investigation into Dr. Barto’s predatory behavior, led by the Attorney General’s Office, uncovered a shocking pattern of abuse that spanned decades. The majority of the assaults committed by Barto took place in the examination room at Laurel Pediatric Associates, where he worked as a pediatrician. Two of Barto’s victims were family members, while the others were child patients brought to his office by unsuspecting parents.
The victims, who included both girls and boys, ranged in age from just two weeks old to 12 years old. The typical age of a child visiting their pediatrician. The fact that Barto used his position of authority to exploit and abuse these children is a horrifying testament to the depths of his depravity.
Attorney General Shapiro stated, ‘This was a horrendous series of crimes. Dr. Barto used his authority as a pediatrician – the family doctor everyone relied on to treat their children – as a cloak to feed his own sick desires. He held himself out as a pillar in his community – a family pediatrician, an elected member of the school board, a regular attendee at church. My office unraveled Barto’s web of lies, deceits and assault of children, and today he’s been held accountable for his crimes.’
In December, Barto entered pleas to multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault, and indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children. At sentencing, the court accepted a report classifying Barto as a Sexually Violent Predator under Megan’s Law, requiring him to register with the Pennsylvania State Police for the rest of his life.
Rumors about Dr. Barto’s possible abuse of child patients had been circulating in the community for years, with a complaint filed against him with the state licensing board for physicians as far back as 1999. However, it wasn’t until the family of a 12-year-old girl reported Dr. Barto’s assault to police in December 2017 that the Attorney General’s Office launched a thorough investigation, working closely with local law enforcement to build a case against the pediatrician.
The case against Dr. Barto is a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for communities to come together to protect their most vulnerable members. As Attorney General Shapiro noted, ‘Dr. Barto thought he was immune to prosecution, and he played a long game to ensure that families thought well of him and allowed their children near him.’ The sentencing of Dr. Johnnie Barto to 79 to 158 years in prison serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit and harm children, and a testament to the dedication of law enforcement officials who work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: Pennsylvania AG
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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