John Dehart Child Abuse Charges and Death

Developing StoryLast updated APR 30
SUMMARY

John Dehart of Camano Island, Washington, was charged with child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania for alleged incidents between 2011 and 2013, with his bail set at $1 million on April 30, 2026. As of April 30, 2026, a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21, 2024, and status hearings were set for August 26, 2024, and August 25, 2025. Separately, John William “Johnny” Dehart, 69, of Strasburg, Virginia, died on April 19, 2026. Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. entered not guilty pleas to 21 charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, on February 18, 2026, for the murder of Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan and wounding of Deputy Shelby Eggers. A judge denied his legal team's motion to have the grand jury selected from outside Blount County on January 30, 2025.

Timeline

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April 2026 — 2 developments

  1. John Dehart has been charged with alleged sexual abuse of a minor in Pennsylvania between 2011 and 2013.

    John Dehart has been charged with alleged sexual abuse of a minor in Pennsylvania between 2011 and 2013. His bail was set at $1 million, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21, 2024.

  2. John Dehart of Camano Island, Washington, has been charged with child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania for alleged incidents between 2011 and 2013.

    John Dehart of Camano Island, Washington, has been charged with child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania for alleged incidents between 2011 and 2013. Separately, John William “Johnny” Dehart, 69, of Strasburg, Virginia, died on April 19, 2026. Status hearings for the Pennsylvania case were scheduled for August 26, 2024, and August 25, 2025.

February 2026 — 2 developments

  1. Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr.

    Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. entered not guilty pleas to all charges at his second arraignment hearing on February 18, 2026, for the murder of Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan and wounding of Deputy Shelby Eggers. A Blount County grand jury had indicted DeHart on 21 charges, including first-degree premeditated murder.

  2. Kenneth DeHart Jr.

    Kenneth DeHart Jr., charged in the fatal shooting of Deputy Greg McCowan and the injury of another deputy, is scheduled for arraignment on 21 charges on Wednesday, February 18.

January 2026 — 1 developments

  1. Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr.

    Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. is facing over a dozen charges, including premeditated first-degree murder, for the killing of Deputy Greg McCowan in February 2024. His legal team's motion to have the grand jury selected from outside Blount County was denied by a judge.

November 2025 — 2 developments

  1. Kenneth DeHart Jr.

    Kenneth DeHart Jr. will face a grand jury for a second time in connection with the 2024 killing of a Blount County deputy. A judge has ordered a new preliminary hearing for DeHart, who faces multiple charges including premeditated first-degree murder. His legal team is seeking this new hearing, citing alleged mistakes by his previous court-appointed public defenders and claims that DeHart was denied his constitutional right to counsel.

  2. A judge has ordered a new preliminary hearing for Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr.

    A judge has ordered a new preliminary hearing for Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr., who is accused of killing Deputy Greg Macauan and injuring Deputy Shelby Edgars. The case has also been sent back to the grand jury for a second time after a ruling that DeHart was denied his constitutional right to hire his own attorney.

June 2025 — 3 developments

  1. For the PA v.

    For the PA v. John Dehart and Sarah Miller cases, trial dates were continued on June 23, 2025. A status hearing initially set for August 25, 2025, was rescheduled to October 20, 2025. John Dehart and Sarah Miller face charges related to alleged sexual abuse of a child between 2011 and 2013.

  2. A status hearing was scheduled for August 26, 2024, in the case of PA v.

    A status hearing was scheduled for August 26, 2024, in the case of PA v. John Dehart/Sarah Miller, concerning charges of incest and child rape between 2011 and 2013. John Dehart, 56, and Sarah Miller, 34, are accused of forcing a child to perform sex acts. A subsequent status conference was rescheduled to September 26, 2024.

  3. A hearing on June 23, 2025, resulted in the continuation of both defendants' trial dates.

    A hearing on June 23, 2025, resulted in the continuation of both defendants' trial dates. A new status hearing, called the Criminal List, is scheduled for August 25, 2025.

September 2024 — 1 developments

  1. Sarah Miller's bail was set at $1 million on May 9, 2024, and she remains incarcerated.

    Sarah Miller's bail was set at $1 million on May 9, 2024, and she remains incarcerated. A status conference for both John Dehart and Sarah Miller was initially scheduled for August 26, 2024, and later rescheduled for September 26, 2024.

May 2024 — 2 developments

  1. John Dehart was arrested in Philadelphia on April 18 and extradited to Lancaster County.

    John Dehart was arrested in Philadelphia on April 18 and extradited to Lancaster County. Sarah Miller was taken into custody in Luzerne County on May 8, 2024, and arraigned with a $1 million bail.

April 2024 — 2 developments

  1. John Dehart is taken into custody in Philadelphia and subsequently extradited to Lancaster County.

    John Dehart is taken into custody in Philadelphia and subsequently extradited to Lancaster County.

  2. Charges are filed against John Dehart in Lancaster County, including rape of a child, statutory sexu…

    Charges are filed against John Dehart in Lancaster County, including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, incest, indecent assault, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children, and terroristic threats.

December 2023 — 1 developments

  1. The East Hempfield Township Police Department is notified of the alleged abuse by Dehart and Miller …

    The East Hempfield Township Police Department is notified of the alleged abuse by Dehart and Miller to a juvenile victim, disclosed by a witness in a separate, unrelated investigation.

December 2014 — 1 developments

  1. Sarah Miller pleads guilty to corruption of minors, receiving a sentence of 11 to 23 months in prison with four years probation.

    Sarah Miller pleads guilty to corruption of minors, receiving a sentence of 11 to 23 months in prison with four years probation.

October 2014 — 2 developments

  1. John Dehart and Sarah Miller are accused of sexually abusing a child between 2011 and 2013, with the abuse coming to light in December 2023.

    John Dehart and Sarah Miller are accused of sexually abusing a child between 2011 and 2013, with the abuse coming to light in December 2023. In a separate case from 2014, John Dehart pleaded guilty to charges including endangering the welfare of children and indecent sexual intercourse.

  2. John Dehart pleads guilty in Luzerne County court to two counts of endangering the welfare of childr…

    John Dehart pleads guilty in Luzerne County court to two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one count of indecent sexual intercourse, related to a teenage girl over several years. He was sentenced to 4 to 8 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender.

January 2013 — 1 developments

  1. John Dehart is convicted in Pennsylvania for endangering the welfare of a child, receiving a sentence of 6 to 12 months in prison.

    John Dehart is convicted in Pennsylvania for endangering the welfare of a child, receiving a sentence of 6 to 12 months in prison.