Mar 5, 2015 3 min read

After months of turmoil, the Washington County Juvenile Probation Office is under new leadership.

On Feb. 24, Washington County President Judge Katherine Emery signed an order appointing Amanda Gallagher as chief of juvenile probation and Randy Butka as assistant chief. Following their appointment, the county’s salary board unanimously voted Thursday to abolish the $278 per day position of temporary Chief Probation Officer John Penderville. Penderville was appointed to the position Oct. 24 by former President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca following the arrest of then-juvenile probation Chief Daniel J. Clements, who is accused of misappropriating county funds.

Court Administrator Patrick Grimm said Gallagher’s appointment will become effective March 17. She will receive a salary of $74,622. Grimm said Gallagher will move from her current position as probation supervisor in Allegheny County. Butka, who was promoted from JPO supervisor to assistant chief, has already moved into his role.

Grimm said Gallagher “is a good fit” for Washington County.

“She’s a capable leader,” he said. “We are confident that she will be able to improve and officiate any changes to improve the court’s probation services.”

He was thankful for Penderville, who came out of retirement to assist juvenile probation.

“He did an excellent job and provided stability to JPO,” Grimm said.

The search for a new juvenile probation chief began after Clements was arrested on Oct. 10 and charged with theft by deception and tampering with public records. The charges stem from an allegation he pocketed funds that were supposed to be used for mixed-martial arts training – a form of self-defense the department since dropped.

Prior to his Oct. 10 arrest, Clements retired and has since applied for a pension. He had worked for the county since April 1994. Clements has yet to appear before a judge on the matter.

The juvenile probation office came under scrutiny in August after former probation officer David Scrip filed a whistleblower lawsuit. Named as defendants were O’Dell Seneca, then-Deputy Court Administrator Thomas Jess, Clements and Washington County. Scrip claims his employment was wrongfully terminated after he claimed Clements was making inappropriate recommendations to place children at a treatment center where his girlfriend worked. At O’Dell Seneca’s request, the suit, filed in Washington County Court, was moved to U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.

Jess’ position, which oversaw family court and probation services, was terminated Feb. 6. He was hired in 2001.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court relieved O’Dell Seneca of her administrative duties Nov. 5, appointing Allegheny County Senior Judge Joseph M. James as interim administrative judge of Washington County. O’Dell Seneca retired from the bench two months later, and Emery, who had the most seniority among the five remaining Washington County jurists, succeeded her as president judge.

Grimm said there are two open supervisor positions within juvenile probation. Both vacant positions will be filled by Gallagher.