A Westmoreland County judge Tuesday rejected a request from the son of a Lower Burrell district judge to be transferred back to the county’s jail to finish serving out a six-month sentence for drug offenses.

The attorney for Stephen Yakopec III, 29, of Lower Burrell in court documents filed this month said his client reported to Westmoreland County Prison on Nov. 25 to begin serving the remainder of his sentence and was immediately reassigned to the Washington County Jail to “address safety concerns.” Yakopec was allowed to serve the first portion of his sentence in a drug rehabilitation program.

Defense lawyer Michael DeRiso said Washington County jail officials will not allow Yakopec to travel to Arnold to work as a paralegal, claiming the 90-minute drive is too long. A move back to Westmoreland’s jail in Hempfield would enable Yakopec to work while incarcerated, DeRiso said. DeRiso argued that would allow him to earn money he needs to pay court costs and fines.

Yakopec, the son of Lower Burrell District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec and the nephew of Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck, was sentenced in September to serve a 6-to-23 months in jail after he pleaded guilty in three cases to charges he possessed drugs.

Prosecutors said Yakopec participated in a million-dollar marijuana distribution ring that operated in Westmoreland County.

He was arrested following a traffic stop in Murrysville on Aug. 1, 2018, when police found 14 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle.

A subsequent search of a home Yakopec shared with his girlfriend found additional illicit drugs and empty boxes that he told police were sent to him from his drug supplier in Oregon, according to court records.

He also pleaded guilty to one drug-related count in connection with a search of a Lower Burrell home in March 2018. Police said Yakopec was in the residence where 13 bags of marijuana were discovered.

Yakopec, in his court filing, did not disclose any specific reason for his transfer to the Washington County jail, but said his status there was compromised because inmates suspect he is an informant.

DeRiso also suggested Yakopec is subjected to poor living conditions in the Washington County jail, saying Yakopec must sleep on the floor of his cell.

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