Former Washington County judge gets work release during 30-day term in jail

A former Washington County judge sentenced to spend at least 30 days behind bars for stealing drugs kept as evidence could end up spending only 30 nights there.

Jail officials on Wednesday revealed that Paul Pozonsky joined its work-release program and will spend up to six days a week as a laborer for a friend's property-damage restoration and construction company.

Pozonsky, 59, of Cecil reported to jail Monday afternoon, hours after he was sentenced. He started work for Tri-State Restoration Services Inc. Tuesday morning after being fitted for an orange jumpsuit and posing for a mug shot.

“Sometimes it moves that quickly, sometimes it don't,” Warden John Temas said about Pozonsky's prompt approval for a job he had never worked.

Pozonsky is one of about 40 male inmates housed in a special out-prisoner unit, Temas said. Others report to the unit to serve weekend sentences, he said.

“He is being treated like the rest of the individuals that the court has given work-release privileges.”

Some county residents aren't so sure.

“Being who he is, he got a slap on the wrist and sent on his merry way,” said Sharon Sladick, 54, of Canonsburg. “It's a joke. It's Washington County politics at its finest.”

Taylor Gordon said he spent months last year searching for a job because he was laid off.

“It's hard for me to find a job, and this guy found one in three hours,” said Gordon, 21, of Washington. “Special treatment is probably going to be handed down to that guy all the way through. He's getting off easy, especially with work release.”

Senior Common Pleas Judge Daniel Howsare on Monday denied a request from Pozonsky's attorney, Robert Del Greco of Pittsburgh, for probation or house arrest. The Bedford County judge, however, afforded Pozonsky several hours of freedom to arrange care for his elderly parents. Del Greco said his client recently returned from Alaska to care for them after his wife asked for a divorce.

Pozonsky showed up to jail 20 minutes early, said Temas.

“He came with a letter of verification for employment,” he said.

Pozonsky will work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, should there be enough work, said Mark Fiorilli, another of Pozonsky's attorneys.

“I spoke with Paul (Wednesday) morning to verify some details about his employment,” Fiorilli wrote in an email, “and when we spoke, Paul was working on repairing the roof of a home.”

J. Scott Bernett, 52, of Avella offered Pozonsky a laborer position with his company. The two are friends, Fiorilli said.

Deborah Wolbert, Tri-State's office manager, declined to answer questions regarding Pozonsky.

“I have nothing to say. You have a good day,” Wolbert said before hanging up.

Bernett could not be reached for comment. The Better Business Bureau gives Tri-State, which opened in 1991, its highest marks.

Bernett owns several rental properties around Washington County and has renovated a number of dilapidated buildings, including the Duane Hotel in downtown Washington.

Bernett has no criminal record, online state court records show, and campaign finance reports do not show that he ever contributed to Pozonsky's election campaigns.

After 14 years on the bench, Pozonsky retired in 2012 once he was barred from hearing criminal cases after state police seized evidence from his chambers. Prosecutors sought a court order for the evidence from drug cases that Pozonsky wanted to be destroyed. Investigators discovered cocaine used as evidence in several cases had been replaced with baking soda.

Pozonsky in March pleaded guilty to obstruction of administration of law, theft and misapplication of entrusted property — all misdemeanors.

Howsare sentenced Pozonsky to 30 days to 23- ¹⁄₂ months in jail for the obstruction charge and two years of probation for the other counts.

Gordon said he doubts many others would have received such a lenient sente'nce.

“If someone else would have stolen drugs from evidence, they would have gotten two to three times what he got,” Gordon said. “It's really messed up.”

Jason Cato is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7936 or jcato@tribweb.com.