Allegheny County judge accused of improper conduct with teens in judicial board complaint

An Allegheny County judge is accused of engaging in improper conduct with teenage boys in a judicial board complaint filed this week.

Magistrate Judge Anthony Saveikis, who has served as a judge since January 2002, was notified by the state judicial conduct board that he is facing formal charges before the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.

The complaint includes eight counts alleging judicial ethics violations, including bringing disrepute to the office and failure to promote confidence in the judiciary.

The charges stem from alleged incidents involving underage boys, two of whom came before him as defendants.

Saveikis has been on leave from the bench for about a year. A spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts said she could not provide the date the leave began or any details as to why it was requested.

Saveikis is receiving his $109,973 salary during his absence.

Attorney Robert Del Greco, who represents Saveikis, said Friday he had no comment.

The complaint alleges Saveikis approached an unidentified 17-year-old boy while he was working at Janoski’s Country Restaurant in November 2018. The judge asked the boy personal questions before following him into a closed freezer in the restaurant, where he touched the teen’s shoulders, arms and back.

County police investigated the incident and sent their results to District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., whose office declined to file charges. The incident was also reported to former Allegheny County President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, who met with Saveikis and “strongly cautioned him regarding continued conduct of this type,” the complaint said.

The complaint alleges Saveikis continued such inappropriate conduct again in 2022.

A juvenile, who was not named in the documents, was cited for purchasing alcoholic beverages at age 17. He appeared before Saveikis in court, and the judge ordered he attend four Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and complete 25 hours of community service at a local fair.

While the teenager was completing his community service hours at the local fairgrounds, the complaint alleges, Saveikis would often go speak with him. The judge also is accused of frequently visiting Coen Markets where the boy worked, offering to take him out after his shifts and texting him on his personal phone.

Saveikis continued to preside over the boy’s court case during this period, the complaint said. He eventually dismissed charges once conditions were completed.

In the same year, according to the complaint, Saveikis presided over a case for a 14-year-old boy charged with harassment.

The judge ordered the boy, who was not identified in the complaint, to complete two shifts at the Findlay Fair and complete a teen accountability class.

Saveikis allegedly sought out the boy at the festival, where the judge showed him around, introduced him to people and touched his arms and shoulders.

Around 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2022, the judge told the boy to go wait in his car and suggested they drive to Our Diner for lunch, according to the complaint. The judge didn’t get permission from the boy’s parents before taking him to the restaurant, where they stayed for about 45 minutes, and the judge paid for the teenager’s lunch.

The complaint said the judge then drove the boy to a nearby convenience store, purchased items for him there and then returned to the festival. Once they returned, the judge allegedly walked around with the boy “arm in arm” and used a derogatory term for a person of mixed-race heritage to describe the teenager.

The boy’s mother reported the incident to her son’s school resource officer. County police investigated and sent their findings to the district attorney’s office, which again declined to file charges.

A spokeswoman for the DA’s office said that investigators are monitoring the matter as it moves through the Court of Judicial Discipline.

“The actions alleged on its face would appear inappropriate but do not rise to the level of criminal conduct.”

A county police spokesman said he had no comment.

Clark “again strongly cautioned” Saveikis about his alleged behavior.

Although Saveikis is on leave, during the board’s investigation, he would have been prohibited from hearing cases involving minors.

According to the Court of Judicial Discipline, once a complaint is filed formally charging a judge with misconduct, the matter unfolds much like a criminal case.

A judge will be appointed to preside over the matter within 10 days. That judge then will preside over pre-trial hearings and rule on motions.

Under the rules, Saveikis has 30 days from service of the complaint to file a motion questioning the sufficiency of the allegations or whether the court has jurisdiction.

Discovery must be completed within 60 days of the complaint.

A trial would occur in a public setting before a panel of judges from the Court of Judicial Discipline.

If the court finds “clear and convincing” evidence of misconduct, its levels of discipline range from reprimand to suspension to permanent removal from office and pension forfeiture.