Oct. 04--A Beechview man accused of impersonating a deputy when he tried to enter a courthouse two years ago was arraigned today on charges that he lied during his trial.
Andre Hughes, 34, was arrested by Allegheny County sheriff's deputies Tuesday on charges of perjury and firearms violations.
Mr. Hughes' legal trouble goes back to February 2010, when sheriff's deputies said he set off the metal detector as he tried to enter the Family Division Complex. A security guard noticed that Mr. Hughes was wearing a badge and asked if he was an officer. Mr. Hughes said he was an Allegheny County sheriff's deputy, so the security guard directed him to another entrance, sheriff's Lt. Jack Kearney said in a news release.
At that the other entrance, Mr. Hughes said first that he was a reserve deputy and then that he was a guard for a local security company, the lieutenant said. Investigators later learned that Mr. Hughes had been dismissed from the reserves and searched his home, finding "an assorted amount of police paraphernalia, including the badge in question," Lt. Kearney said.
Mr. Hughes was charged with impersonating a public servant and other crimes in connection with that incident. During his trial, which began last Wednesday, he testified that he no longer wore a uniform while working for the security company and instead was assigned to office duties, the lieutenant said.
The sheriff's office received a tip on Tuesday that Mr. Hughes had been lying, so deputies staked out the area near the security office and spotted Mr. Hughes wearing a uniform, Lt. Kearney said. Deputies arrested him on on a perjury charge and, while searching his car, found a gun and a TASER, he said.
The lieutenant said Mr. Hughes was found guilty of firearms and drug violations stemming from the incident in 2010. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17, according to online court records.
Liz Navratil: [email protected], 412-263-1438 or on Twitter @LizNavratil.
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