Arnold man charged after kids test positive for cocaine
An Arnold man faces three counts of endangering the welfare of children after his 5-, 3- and 1-year-old tested positive for cocaine.
Westmoreland County detectives say they began investigating Josiah Hughes, 30, in May with a case involving child endangerment, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
A ChildLine report claimed Hughes allegedly left the three children unattended inside their Woodmont Avenue home, according to the DA’s office.
When case workers with the Children’s bureau investigated, they found the three children “living in deplorable conditions” and took custody of the children, the DA’s office said.
The children were taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. All three tested positive for cocaine, according to authorities.
Hughes was arraigned Thursday morning, where New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. set $25,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing for Hughes is scheduled Oct. 30 before Pallone.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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