Washington Township district judge to handle Arnold police chief's hearing

Arnold’s suspended police chief will have to wait another month for a hearing on charges against him stemming from a state sting operation.

New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is recusing himself from the case against Josh Stanga, 41, of Arnold, who authorities say failed a test of his integrity Aug. 6 when he kept most of the cash placed in a staged car left in Union Cemetery and reported as stolen.

The sting was staged by state police and the state Attorney General’s Office.

Pallone normally handles arraignments and preliminary hearings for New Kensington and Arnold. Senior Judge Charles Conway oversaw Stanga’s Sept. 19 arraignment at Pallone’s office, releasing Stanga without bail.

Stanga’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for the morning of Oct. 30 before District Judge Jason Buczak at his office in Washington Township.

Stanga faces five misdemeanor charges — theft, misapplying entrusted property, obstructing administration of law, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with evidence.

As part of their investigation into misconduct allegations against Stanga, authorities said, they left $313 in cash and several fake opioid pills in the staged car. While Stanga turned over all of the pills, they say he reported finding only $35 in the car.

Stanga has denied any wrongdoing.

Unless Stanga waives a preliminary hearing, prosecutors will have to show only that there is enough evidence for the case against Stanga to proceed to trial.

Stanga has been on leave from Arnold since Aug. 16. City council changed his leave from paid to unpaid following his arraignment.