Men caught with hidden cellphones at Westmoreland County Prison

Two men are accused of having cellphones at Westmoreland County Prison, according to court papers.

Leon D. Fair, 23, of Jeannette told authorities he sneaked his cellphone into the Hempfield jail Aug. 3 and used it to make calls to his family, to try to have bail posted and to watch pornography. Michael M. David, 37, of Moon, was caught with a phone eight days later, according to Westmoreland County detectives.

Both are charged with contraband.

While Fair was being booked into the jail Aug. 3, he placed his wallet and cellphone on a counter to be inventoried. When a guard looked away, he grabbed the phone, hid it and took it with him to B Unit, according to court papers.

When David was being moved between two units Aug. 11, the phone was found in his belongings, authorities said. A SIM card for the phone was found hidden in a toilet in Fair’s cell. David told investigators that the phone was given to him by another inmate to deliver to someone else in the jail.

Both men have preliminary hearings set for Sept. 6. Both were given an unsecured bail in the contraband cases.

Fair remains at the Westmoreland County Prison on $5,000 bail in an unrelated case filed by Jeannette police.

Court records indicated David was being held at the Allegheny County Jail on unrelated matters.