Lock Haven – Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse announced today that Gwen Ardner, 38, of West Main Street in Lock Haven was sentenced this morning before the President Judge Craig Miller.

While Ardner was pleading for probation and no jail time, the Commonwealth argued for a sentence of 12 to 120 months. Ardner was sentenced to 9 to 18 months for the charge of Interference With the Custody of Children a Felony of the Third degree and 3 to 6 months for the charge of Concealment of the Whereabouts of a Child, also a Felony of the Third degree. Ardner will serve these sentences at the Clinton County Correctional Facility.

In the charges, State Police outlined that Ardner had picked up the 12-year-old female shortly after midnight on May14th. The State Police then spent several days searching for the missing girl, including the search of Ardner’s home. Police were able to obtain surveillance footage that showed Ardner taking the child and hiding her every time law enforcement went to her home to search.

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