radioNOVO News for Altoona: July 20, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 07/20/26          A 27-YEAR-OLD BLAIR COUNTY MAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO NEARLY 50 FELONY COUNTS RELATED TO POSSESSING MORE THAN 21-THOUSAND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY FILES. NASIR DEBONAIRE GARNER ENTERED THE PLEAS ON THE FINAL DAY OF HIS TRIAL, WHILE A SINGLE CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED INVOLUNTARY DEVIATE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WAS SEVERED. JUDGE WADE KAGARISE WILL ISSUE A VERDICT ON THAT REMAINING CHARGE AT A LATER DATE.          BLAIR COUNTY WILL PAY A COMBINED $100,000 TO SETTLE A FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED BY TWO WOMEN WHO SAY THEY WERE FORCED TO PARTIALLY UNDRESS AT THE COUNTY PRISON. THE NURSE AND CASEWORKER ALLEGED THEY HAD TO REMOVE CLOTHING IN VIEW OF MALE GUARDS AND INMATES AFTER TRIGGERING A METAL DETECTOR IN 2025. THE COUNTY DENIES ALL LIABILITY UNDER THE AGREEMENT.          A 66-YEAR-OLD ALTOONA MAN FACES MULTIPLE AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES AFTER POLICE SAY HE ABANDONED EIGHT KITTENS IN TRASH CANS AT AREA SHEETZ GAS STATIONS. AUTHORITIES SAY JOSEPH FRANK JR. CONFESSED TO SEALING THE YOUNG ANIMALS IN GROCERY BAGS BECAUSE HE FELT OVERWHELMED BY LOCAL STRAY LITTERS. FOUR OF THOSE KITTENS ULTIMATELY DIED.