By Dan Majors,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Allegheny County Sheriff William P. Mullen and representatives of the district attorney’s office will meet this morning to review circumstances under which inmates of a Downtown housing facility are released for recreational activities.
The meeting was called after Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning learned during a probation hearing yesterday that Roy McCullough, an inmate living at Renewal Center, had been released to work out at Gold’s Gym in Market Square.
Renewal Center, on the Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown, is used to house nonviolent offenders to relieve overcrowding at the county jail. Mr. McCullough, 47, of Plum is serving a six-month to two-year sentence for drunken driving.
Renewal Center supervisor Earl Kalchthaler told Judge Manning that inmates also had been allowed to go to their homes and to Pirates games.
“Had I known it was standard operating procedure, I wouldn’t have sent him there. I said that in court and I’m saying it now,’' the judge said after yesterday’s hearing. “I would expect it to be properly investigated. At least in this case, this person was sentenced there on a mandatory DUI sentence but was given opportunities never authorized by the court. He was never authorized to go to Gold’s Gym.”
Sheriff Mullen said he learned of the releases yesterday.
“I don’t know if that’s what the Renewal Center is supposed to be doing,” he said. “We’re looking into the oversight and whether there were any improprieties or violations. We’re aware of the problem and we’re taking appropriate action.”
In the meantime, Mr. McCullough has been denied continued alternative housing and will remain in jail until fulfillment of at least his minimum sentence.
Copyright 2008 P.G. Publishing Co.