Pubdate: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 Source: Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA) Copyright: 2007 The Times Leader Contact: http://www.timesleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/933 Author: Terrie Morgan-Besecker, Law & Order Reporter Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?246 (Policing - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake