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A Warren man's motion to withdraw his guilty plea entered in May in relation to three felony charges related to a missing New York teenager has been denied.
Michael J. Bundy III, 25, pleaded guilty in the Court of Common Pleas on May 7 to one count of second-degree statutory sexual assault: 8-11 years older, one count of second-degree felony aggravated indecent assault - forcible compulsion and one count of third-degree felony corruption of minors - defendant age 18 or over. The rest of the remaining 13 charges were not prosecuted.
After the plea, according to online court docket information, Bundy III filed a motion for a new lawyer and a change of venue on May 19 followed by a motion on July 10 to withdraw his plea. A hearing was held recently in front of Judge Todd Woodin in the Court of Common Pleas, with the motion to withdraw the guilty plea and a motion to remove Bundy III's counsel both denied.
Bundy III is scheduled to be sentenced in August, according to online court docket information. Bundy III faces up to 10 years in prison and a minimum of 25 years registration as a sex offender under Megan's Law in Pennsylvania to satisfy the charge of second-degree felony statutory sexual assault: 8-11 years older. The penalty for second-degree felony aggravated indecent assault - forcible compulsion is also up to 10 years in prison and a classification as a Tier 3 sexual offense under Megan's Law. The plea to third-degree felony corruption of minors - defendant age 18 or over includes up to seven years in prison, a potential lifetime prohibition on possessing, using or owning a firearm and registration under Megan's Law.
According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Warren police officers, the case began with a June 8, 2025, report from the New York State Police of a missing teenage girl. Warren police received information June 16 about the incident, with updated information received June 19 that the girl may be in the city of Warren. Officers were unable to find the girl on June 19, but received a call on June 21 that the girl was allegedly staying with Bundy III.
The Warren County Adult Probation Department and Warren police officers went back to Bundy’s apartment. Bundy wasn’t home, according to the affidavit, but the girl was in the apartment. She was taken into protective custody and the New York State Police were notified. Officers then went to Bundy’s workplace, where he was taken into custody on a probation detainer until charges were filed.
On June 22, a city police detective interviewed Bundy III, who said the girl had come to Warren trying to meet up with one of Bundy’s coworkers. The coworker wanted nothing to do with the girl, so Bundy said he allowed the girl to stay at his apartment despite allegedly knowing she had run away from home.
On June 23, a forensic interview was done at the Children’s Advocacy Program in Jamestown. The girl told investigators that after she ran away from home, she reached out to a friend on Snapchat asking if they would pick her up. The friend agreed and drove her around Jamestown before going to Warren upon the girl’s request. The girl said she reached out to an old friend at his place of employment, but the friend didn’t want her around, leaving the girl stranded in Warren. That’s when Bundy invited her to his apartment.The girl detailed instances of intercourse during her stay with Bundy, and the affidavit states Bundy also admitted to intercourse with the girl.