EX-COP TO ADMIT TO FIREARM AND DRUG CHARGES

Charles M. Byra Jr. accused of possessing gun stolen from Dupont
Police evidence locker, crack cocaine.

A former police officer who was charged with stealing evidence from
the Dupont Police Department has agreed to plead guilty to federal
firearm and drug charges, according to court records and his attorney.

Charles M. Byra Jr. of Winter Street, Pittston Township, is scheduled
to enter the plea on Jan. 15 to possession of a stolen firearm and
possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, both felonies, said
Gerard Grealish, a federal public defender. Prosecutors have agreed to
drop five additional counts, Grealish said.

Byra, 29, was indicted by a federal grand jury last December on
multiple charges related to the theft of drugs and weapons from the
evidence room of the Dupont Police Department, where he had worked as
a part-time officer. Authorities began investigating Byra after Dupont
Police Chief Anthony DeMark reported items were missing.

Police utilized an informant, who tape-recorded Byra admitting to
stealing a .380 caliber handgun from police evidence that he later
gave to a known drug dealer. Byra was also recorded saying that he
targeted minorities for drug arrests, and that he stole items from
them.

At the time of his arrest Byra was employed by the Pittston Township
police department. He had also previously worked as part-time officer
for several other departments, including Avoca, Sugar Notch and
Warrior Run.

Byra was originally set to go on trial in February, but his case was
repeatedly continued as his attorney tried to work out a plea
agreement. The plea document has not yet been publicly filed, but
Grealish said it calls for other drug and weapons charges to be dropped.

Grealish said Byra accepts responsibility for his actions and opted to
enter a plea rather than go to trial and risk a potentially longer
prison sentence if he was convicted.

"He doesn't want to fight something where he knows he was wrong,"
Grealish said.

Grealish said he did not have information readily available regarding
Byra's potential sentence, but Grealish said prosecutors have agreed
to seek a reduced sentence because Byra has agreed to plead guilty.