PFA against Mt. Lebanon officer dropped
The ability to carry a gun was restored to a Mt. Lebanon police officer who has not worked since a Washington County judge ruled he couldn’t use his service weapon.
Washington County Senior Judge John C. Reed granted an order Tuesday allowing Cpl. James Hughes to carry and possess guns after his estranged wife withdrew a petition for a permanent protection from abuse order.
According to Mt. Lebanon police Chief Aaron Lauth, James Hughes has used vacation time since Dec. 6, when Reed granted a temporary PFA against him, ordered his guns to be seized and denied a request to allow him to use his service firearm during work hours.
Linda Hughes filed a petition after a Nov. 30 argument at the couple’s former home on East Buffalo Church Road, Buffalo Township, in which she claimed James Hughes, now a Pittsburgh resident, arrived to retrieve belongings. Linda Hughes said her estranged husband said he “wanted to take me out in the woods and shoot me in the head.”
Linda Hughes said that in the past when she said she was going to contact police, James Hughes said he knew how to put marks on himself and that they would arrest her and not him because he was an officer.
Before the hearing to make the PFA permanent Tuesday, attorneys for the Hugheses said their clients agreed to vacate the order.
An attorney for Linda Hughes said withdrawing the PFA without prejudice was the best option for his client.
“The goal of the PFA is keeping her safe. (Vacating the PFA) is the best option to calm things to allow Mr. Hughes to continue in his career,” said Chris A. Stachtiaris after the hearing. “She still has the opportunity (to file another PFA) if he does something. We think this will be more protective than a PFA.”
Stachtiaris said the Hugheses’ divorce is proceeding and assets are currently being divided, leaving no reason for the estranged couple to interact.
“We’re very happy to be vindicated,” said James Hughes’ attorney, D. Scott Lautner, after the hearing.
Eighty-four guns that have been stored in a courthouse vault since the Dec. 6 hearing will be returned to James Hughes.
Lauth said Monday the department would wait until after Tuesday’s hearing to make a decision on his employment status.
“He’s just not allowed to work on the road,” Lauth said. “He’s using some days off and paid time off on his own. We’re waiting the results of the hearing.”