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| Dying prisoner denied release |
| By The Tribune-Democrat |
| Published: 11/13/2003 |
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John Chalfont Sr. likely will die behind bars. The convicted child molester suffering from terminal lung cancer will not be released from prison to die at home with his family, a Bedford County, Pa. judge ruled yesterday. Chalfont, 62, formerly of Auction Drive in Bedford, was diagnosed with lung cancer six months ago, and the cancer has spread to other parts of his body. His attorney concedes an appeal of Judge Daniel Howsare's ruling would be worthless. Howsare concluded that Chalfont, who has served less than three years of a 21/2- to 5-year sentence for molesting a 7-year-old girl at his home, is receiving adequate medical care behind bars at Waymar, a state prison in Wayne County for older and ill inmates. Howsare said he had a telephone interview with the doctor treating Chalfont, who indicated the prisoner is receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The judge cited case law that would allow early release only if Chalfont were not being adequately treated. The mother of the young victim, who did not take the stand to testify, said in an interview following the hearing that she was pleased with the judge's decision to keep Chalfont in jail. When Chalfont was diagnosed with cancer in summer, he was given about a year to live, doctors told Howsare. Crawford said in an interview following the hearing that Chalfont will be lucky to live another three months. The request to allow Chalfont to die at home came from his daughter, Lisa Miller of New Paris. In tearful testimony two weeks ago, Miller said her father's condition is quickly deteriorating and his medical needs could be better met if he lived with her. Chalfont was convicted of molesting the girl more than 20 times in the summer and fall of 1999. Sentenced in 2001, he already has served his minimum, but the state refuses to let him out of jail because he consistently has maintained he did not molest the girl. Part of rehabilitation involves a convict admitting guilt, District Attorney Dwight Diehl said in a courthouse interview. Chalfont, a lifelong county resident, has a record of criminal offenses dating back to an armed robbery in 1968. He gained notoriety in 1987 when he allegedly threw gasoline on his wife and around the couple's mobile home. He denied igniting the liquid. His wife, Diane Chalfont, was severely burned, and the home's kitchen was damaged. Chalfont spent two years in prison on arson and related charges. |
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