Oct 3, 2013 2 min read

A visiting judge Thursday found a local man guilty of both false imprisonment of a child and criminal attempt in connection with an incident last year at a rooming house on Allison Avenue in Washington.

Allegheny County Judge Edward Borkowski presided last month at the nonjury trial of J.J. John Whipkey, 26. According to testimony, the defendant locked a girl, now 4, in his room Nov. 4 of last year. When freed, she was found shirtless. City police said they responded to the residence and Whipkey ran, leaping over a fence and taking a bus to Pittsburgh.

When his former girlfriend picked him up, she testified Whipkey told her the incident stemmed from two children running in and out of his room and that he locked the door because he was tired of the intrusion.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and after Whipkey was taken into custody, he reportedly gave his name as “Soda Pop Joe Johnson,” producing a birth certificate that appeared to have been altered. He was taken into custody in Washington Dec. 3. Whipkey was returned to Washington County jail, where he has been held since on $20,000 bond.

Borkowski, who has been handling cases in Washington County due to two vacancies on the local bench, delayed imposing a penalty until the Washington County Adult Probation Department prepares a presentence investigation and has Whipkey evaluated as a potential Megan’s Law offender.