LOCK HAVEN - Gwen Ardner, 38, of West Main Street in Lock Haven, is scheduled for sentencing on January 10th, 2023 for her role in hiding a missing 12 year old girl for several days while law enforcement conducted a large-scale missing person investigation in May of this year.  State Police spent several days searching for the girl who left her home in the middle of the night on May 14th.  The girl was unable to be located for several days until she was eventually located at Ardner's home approximately 60 hours after her disappearance.  Police allege that Ardner has no relation to the 12 year old girl, and had no authority to take custody of the child.

In the charges, State Police outlined that Ardner had picked up the child shortly after midnight, and then hid the child within her home.  On 3 separate occasions, Police visited Ardner's home on the suspicion that she was involved in the girl's disappearance.  Each time, Ardner denied any knowledge of her whereabouts.  Police allege that eventually they were able to obtain surveillance video from a nearby residence that showed Ardner taking the child and hiding her each time law enforcement came to her home searching for the girl.

In the criminal complaint, State Police indicate that Ardner eventually admitted to hiding the girl from police, but claimed she was trying to protect the girl.

Ardner was originally held on $125,000 bail, and spent almost a month in the Clinton County Correctional Facility before she posted bail on June 9th. On October 31, 2022, Ardner entered guilty pleas before Clinton County Court of Common Please President Judge Craig P. Miller to two felony 3 offenses: Interference with Custody of Children and Concealment of Whereabouts of a Child.  Ardner faces a possible maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

The previous story on Ardner: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/da/133000/post/ardner-waives-prelim-kidnapping-charges-bail-request-denied