Published: November 06, 2009 10:47 pm      

Judge imposes restitution, probation for stolen tickets

EBENSBURG — A Johnstown man who only recently learned of an arrest warrant for possessing stolen concerts tickets nearly 30 years ago has a chance to clear his criminal record.

Howard Chester Bush, of the 700 block of Fronheiser Street, agreed Friday to go on a work crew to pay off an estimated $2,000 in restitution and costs under the accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD) program.

Judge Gerard Long placed Bush on probation for 23 months, but said the time could be shortened if he pays off the $2,000 sooner.

Because Bush had been a fugitive for 28 years, Long threatened to send him directly to jail unless he agreed to pay or work off the amount due.

Bush reluctantly agreed, saying later that he thought he should have had a hearing on the criminal charges. His attorney, Public Defender Maribeth Schaffer, sought unsuccessfully to have the case continued.

Bush, in an interview with The Tribune-Democrat, said he was 18 years old when he was looking to buy some cheap concert tickets.

The criminal complaint alleged that in July 1981 he possessed tickets for Judas Priest, Air Supply and Liberace concerts at Hersheypark – all stolen from the Cambria County War Memorial Arena. An additional charge of default in required appearance was added in November 1981 after Bush failed to show up for court.

Bush said he lived in California for years before moving back to Johnstown about 11/2 months ago.

He said he learned about the charges only after applying for help for his daughter. “That’s when it came out about the warrants,” he said.

Bush said he had been awarded custody of his 7-year-old daughter, Myra, and returned to his hometown to raise her.

Once he learned of the warrants, he said, “I came to turn myself in. I don’t want this to mar me. I want to clear this up.”

He voluntarily showed up at the courthouse Thursday and was told to return Friday.

The soft-spoken Bush said he had worked as a designer of educational games in California and wants to start his own business here.