Gwen R. Ardner

LOCK HAVEN — An Avis woman is jailed on charges related to corruption of minors and allegedly trying to encourage a minor to run away.

According to a release from Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse via Crimewatch, this isn’t the first time Gwen R. Ardner, 42, has faced related charges.

On Monday, March 23, Ardner was bound over on charges of corruption of minors, delivery of controlled substances to minors and other related charges following a preliminary hearing before District Judge Frank Mills.

According to the release, Mills concluded that Strouse, who is representing the Commonwealth, had established a “prima facie” case for the offense. Prima facie is defined as being based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise.

Ardner faces the following charges:

— Three counts of corruption of minors, a first degree misdemeanor which alleges that Ardner encouraged a 16-year-old female juvenile to “run away”; gave advice to the female juvenile about how to hide her drugs and tobacco products so that the juvenile’s father wouldn’t find them in the future; and engaged in a conversation and negotiation with the female juvenile for Ardner to purchase marijuana and tobacco vape devices for the female juvenile, including the arrangement of delivery to the juvenile, who was grounded in her home at the time.

— One count of criminal use of a communication device, a third degree felony

— One count of delivery of a controlled substance to a juvenile, a felony.

— One count of possession with intent to deliver to a juvenile, a felony.

— One count of delivery of drug paraphernalia to a juvenile, a second degree misdemeanor.

At the hearing, Strouse produced text messages between Ardner and the 16-year-old that showed Ardner was in regular and frequent contact with the girl, and detailed the messages that served as the basis for the charges listed above, according to the release.

The release stated that, “Strouse also argued that Ardner has a history of this exact type of behavior.”

Ardner had previously been convicted of two third degree felonies in 2023, interference with the custody of a child and concealing the whereabouts of a child, in which she pleaded guilty. At the time, Ardner was accused of “encouraging a female juvenile to run away from her parents’ home and then Ardner concealed the child from police and the child’s parents,” the release from Crimewatch said.

The release added Ardner also has convictions for conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and for furnishing drug-free urine in 2024 and 2025.

Ardner remains jailed at the Clinton County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 monetary following the preliminary hearing along with parole detainers for her prior convictions.