Gawron

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts in the trial of John Null Gawron for a dozen sex offenses involving children, including rape.

Gawron, 33, who lived on Markatan Street in Flushing prior to his 2018 arrest, was accused of: one count of rape, a first-degree felony; one count of pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor, a second-degree felony; and 10 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony.

Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra set Gawron’s sentencing date for March 23. Gawron faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with no parole. He will be designated a Tier 3 sex offender, the highest level, requiring that he register with the sheriff in his county of residence for life if released.

In 2018, Gawron lived with Wesley Alan Burdge and Tabitha Gallagher. They were the subjects of a month-long manhunt across multiple states after they fled with their children, then ages 1 and 5, in October 2018 after detectives served a search warrant at their Flushing home. The Internet Crimes Against Children Division of the Belmont County Major Crimes Unit had received evidence from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating Gawron had been sharing child pornography on the internet.

Burdge is serving a 16-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor.

Gallagher pleaded guilty to attempted obstruction of justice and was sentenced in June to one-and-a-half years in prison.

Gawron’s trial was an exacting one, involving graphic material and video of Gawron’s interview by law

enforcement.

Gawron’s attorney, Steve Stickles, argued that the interview had coercive pressures, that Burdge was owner or original owner of devices where the illegal material was found, and that no sex acts on Gawron’s part could be proven.

The jury returned its verdict after almost 10 hours of deliberation over the course of two days.

“We truly appreciate the jury’s diligence in this matter,” Belmont County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said. “During their deliberations, they examined all aspects of the case, reviewed the evidence intently and came to an appropriate verdict, finding Mr. Gawron guilty of all charges. They strived for fairness and thoroughness and that is all either side can ask for.”

He extended sympathy for the victims in this case.

“There is some consolation, though, knowing that John Gawron will never again rape another child,” he said. “Our thanks also go to Detective Doug Cruse and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office for their extraordinary efforts in seeing that justice was served. Their work made this conviction possible.”