LOCK HAVEN - Breanna Englert, 26, of Crist Lane, Lock Haven, was sentenced Tuesday morning on 8 separate criminal offenses relating to an April home invasion on the 300 Block of Pennsylvania Avenue in South Renovo.  Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F. Salisbury imposed sentences for one count of Criminal Trespass (F2), one count of Terroristic Threats (M1), two counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2), two counts of Simple Assault (M2), one count of Cruelty to Animals (M2), and one count of Resisting Arrest.  In total, Salisbury imposed a 12 year maximum sentence, with Englert being eligible for parole after serving 3 and 1/2 years in state prison.  Salisbury also eliminated any possibility of Englert qualifying for any of the early release programs offered by the state.  

Englert was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police at Lamar after she broke into a private residence in the late night hours where she was confronted by the homeowners and a neighbor.  Englert was believed to have been under the influence of controlled substances at the time.  Englert attacked the homeowner's dog with a knife and bit two of the victims, who required medical attention.  Immediately following the incident, the victim's dog suffered seizures and died a short time later.

At sentencing on Tuesday, DA Dave Strouse argued for a lengthy term of incarceration for Englert, asking for a maximum of 25 years.  Strouse said, "Ms. Englert should thank her lucky stars that she is still alive today, because in many of the other homes in Clinton County that she could have broken into, she would have died that night."   Strouse outlined what he characterized to be a documented history of violent criminal behavior by Englert since 2019, referencing her two prior convictions for simple assault.  At the time of the April home invasion, Englert was actually on supervision with the Clinton County Adult Probation Department.  Strouse opposed any type of early-release program eligibility for Englert and asked Salisbury to make a clear statement with the sentence that home invasion and terrorizing innocent people would be dealt with severely by the Courts.  

One of Englert's victims, a retired school teacher, also addressed the court.  Speaking directly to Englert, she spoke about Englert's history of drug abuse and crime, "you invited us into your world, we never invited you into ours.  You broke into our house with a knife."  Later adding, "If it wasn't for our neighbors, I don't know what would have happened.  I truly believe our neighbors saved our lives that night."  She also told the Court that her grandchildren are traumatized from the event and have issues being in certain parts of her home due to Englert's break-in.  

Englert briefly addressed the Court and apologized to the victims.  Through tears, she asked the Court to allow her to complete drug treatment programs and insisted that her history of prescription drug abuse and methamphetamine abuse were the cause of her criminal history.  

Judge Salisbury outlined Englert's extensive history before he imposed sentence.  He told her she was in need of a "severe object lesson," and insisted that any lesser sentence would simply be an injustice and Englert would almost certainly re-offend.