Man arrested after police say he brought handgun into Hempfield casino

A Greensburg man was charged Tuesday with carrying a handgun into Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield without a valid conceal carry permit, according to state police.

Kenneth John Czarnecki, 21, is free on his own recognizance on a weapons charge, according to online court records.

Troopers said Czarnecki was banned from the casino at Westmoreland Mall this week for 24 hours after bringing a weapon inside. Investigators did not say in court papers what the weapon was.

He is accused of returning to the casino before the ban expired with a loaded pistol magazine in his waistband and a concealed firearm. Casino security reported seeing the magazine when Czarnecki was outside smoking and adjusted his sweatshirt.

State police were called to the casino at 4 a.m. Tuesday and found Czarnecki sitting at a black jack table. When they arrested him, troopers confiscated the loaded handgun and magazine from his waistband, according to court papers. His concealed carry permit had been previously revoked, police said. It was unclear why from court papers.

When reached by the Tribune-Review Thursday, Czarnecki said he forgot he had the gun and magazine on him and didn’t bring it inside on purpose.

“I had no intention of using it on anyone or hurting or anyone or threatening anyone,” he said. “I forgot to take it off of me when I went in there.”

A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 16. He was sentenced in 2017 to a year in a probationary program on a drunken-driving charge in Greensburg, according to online court records. Czarnecki is awaiting a preliminary hearing on a DUI charge filed by Greensburg police in January.

No weapons of any kind are permitted at the casino, according to the Code of Conduct for guests on the Live! Casino Pittsburgh website.