Police find Apollo woman who skipped sentencing for case of burning a child with a cigarette

Acting on a tip, Kiski Township police found an Apollo woman Tuesday who is accused of not showing up for her court sentencing in a case in which she pleaded guilty to burning a child with a cigarette in 2020.

Lisa Marie Culp, 47, of Apollo was taken to Armstrong County Jail facing new charges of resisting arrest and flight to avoid apprehension.

There was an outstanding arrest warrant for Culp when she didn’t show for a sentencing hearing before an Armstrong County judge, police said.

Culp pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child when she burned an infant with a cigarette in 2020, police said.

Kiski Township police handled the initial complaint. They say the child’s pajama top was burned on the left arm. Police examined the baby and found four burn marks blistering on the infant’s left bicep.

The child was taken to ACMH Hospital in East Franklin, where a doctor said the child suffered first-degree cigarette burns.

Police found Culp on Tuesday hiding in the closet of a township home after they received a tip about her whereabouts, authorities said.

They also found Travis Wolfe, 44, of Apollo in the house. He had an outstanding arrest warrant out of Washington Township alleging failure to appear in court for charges of DUI and violation of DUI license suspension, said Sgt. Thomas Dessell of the Kiski Township police.

Also in the house were Culp’s daughters Brooke Wright, 22; Kodie Wright, 24; and Leighanne Wright, 19, all of Apollo. Culp’s daughters were charged with a hindering the apprehension of a fugitive.

Culp’s daughters were released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Their preliminary hearings are set for Sept. 1 before District Judge James Andring.

The child Culp pleaded guilty to burning also was in the house.

Police on Wednesday arrested and took Lisa Culp to Armstrong County Jail to await sentencing on her guilty plea to endangering the welfare of a child. She is being held without bail, police said.