Feb 26, 2018 By The 4 min read

The Westmoreland County sheriff has been charged with conflict of interest and theft for allegedly using deputies to solicit and collect donations for his political fundraiser during their work hours for the county.

Sheriff Jonathan C. Held, 43, of Claridge allegedly kept track of the businesses where donations were sought on a county computer, and knew that uniformed deputies driving county cars were visiting the businesses while they were working to support his “I Out Shot The Sheriff” fundraiser in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

State Attorney General Josh Shiparo’s office filed the charges Monday.

“Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect and serve our communities — not to seek contributions for their political campaign while they’re on duty,” Shapiro said. “That is theft — of tax dollars and the community’s right to public safety. No one is above the law. I’ll pursue this kind of public corruption wherever I find it across the commonwealth.”

The affidavit filed in the case identifies deputies who spoke to a state investigator as Witness 1, Witness 2 and Witness 3. The court paperwork indicated that was done to ensure that none would be subject to retaliation, and to preserve the integrity of any future investigations.

The investigation started in early 2016 when then-chief deputy Paul McCommons filed a complaint with county District Attorney John Peck, alleging Held used county resources to perform political activities in 2015. The state attorney general’s office took over the investigation in November 2016 at Peck’s request, according to court paperwork.

In January 2017, Witness 1 reportedly told state agents they were given a list of gun stores in the county which were sent letters asking if they wanted to advertise Held’s fundraiser. Shapiro alleged the list of those stores was compiled using the Federal Firearms Database, to which the sheriff’s office has access.

Witness 1 said they were told that Held “didn’t get a good response back from the businesses after the fliers went out, and they were to again call the businesses and ask If they wanted to donate,” according to the complaint.

That witness said they made calls about the fundraiser while on duty.

“The deputy stated after the businesses were contacted the deputies were instructed to go the businesses, again while on duty, using a county vehicle, and retrieve the items that were being donated,” according to the complaint.

Donations included checks, gift cards, case, merchandise, food and firearms, which another witness told investigators were logged and stored at the sheriff’s office.

Witness 1 said deputies were instructed to take a handful of warrants with them as a cover for what they were doing, the complaint alleged.

Witness 2, identified as a “high ranking Westmoreland County sheriff deputy,” was interviewed more than once during the investigation, and reportedly told state agents that they lied about political activities during a prior interview.

That witness told agents that they lied because they were afraid of losing their pension, according to the complaint.

Authorities said that the deputy acknowledged spending two to three hours, twice a week, soliciting donations for the “I Out Shot The Sheriff” fundraiser.

The deputy, involved in the fundraiser since it started in 2014, also reportedly told investigators that Held knew what was going on, as what donations were received were reported to him.

A third witness, interviewed again in January 2018, reportedly told agents that they lied during a February 2017 interview in fear of retaliation.

That witness said they were present when Held discussed who was cooperating with the investigation, and he and the office chief would talk about punishing those people by having their shifts or duty assignments changed.

When Held learned of the investigation, he “discussed changing a deputy’s time sheets to indicate he/she used vacation time while soliciting businesses,” according to the complaint.

Held was arraigned Monday afternoon and released on a recognizance bond.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15.