Courts (Credit: MediaNews Group)
The Franconia Township man attempted to get victims to withdraw statements, police allege
A Franconia Township man already facing charges in a domestic-related case is headed to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on all charges related to his arrest for allegedly attempting to intimidate witnesses and victims from jail in an effort to have them withdraw statements.
Christopher Douglas Trout, 49, had two felony charges of intimidation of a witness or victim, in connection with alleged efforts to interfere with an ongoing prosecution against him, held for arraignment in county court on March 18, following a preliminary hearing this week.
The charges were filed by Franconia Township Police following an investigation that involved prison phone recordings, text messages and a handwritten letter, according to a criminal complaint.
According to the affidavit, Trout was previously charged in December 2025 with harassment, stalking and terroristic threats in separate incidents involving family members. He was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, and during a bail review hearing in mid-December, his bail was modified and he was ordered to have no contact with any victims or witnesses in that case, police said.
Despite that order, prosecutors alleged Trout worked through others to contact family members. Investigators said recorded prison phone calls showed Trout repeatedly speaking with family and referencing a letter he had sent that outlined what family members should say and do before upcoming court hearings.
He allegedly urged that victims recant their statements and contact the courts, police and the district attorney’s office to say they no longer wanted to proceed.
Investigators later recovered a letter that they said was written by Trout and instructed him to persuade family members to recant. The letter allegedly emphasized the need for multiple people to withdraw statements and stop cooperating with the case.
Authorities further alleged that Trout made indirect contact with a relative through another inmate’s phone privileges. Detectives said a woman associated with a different inmate placed a call that was handed to Trout, allowing him to speak with family, at one point, enticing them to obtain a prepaid phone registered under another name to continue contact.
Police said the totality of the communications showed Trout was attempting to obstruct the administration of justice by influencing witnesses and victims to withhold information or recant prior statements.
Trout remains jailed on $50,000 cash bail, per court records.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
