Court orders new trials for Pittsburgh cop who allegedly fell in love with drug-addicted prostitute
The appellate court ruled that Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge
Instead, Johns should have been tried separately on some of the charges, the court said.
A jury in
Lazzara sentenced Johns to three to six years in prison and seven years of probation.
In its 27-page opinion released Friday, the
The court also ruled that the jury had insufficient evidence to convict him of official oppression and ruled that he cannot be retried on that count.
Police said Johns, who resigned soon after he was charged in 2011, fell in love with a drug-addicted prostitute who used his debit card to post advertisements for her services. Police said Johns knew about the prostitute's business and would often drive her from job to job.
While investigating Johns' apartment, police found drugs and the identification of a man named
At trial, Jackson testified that Johns took his ID during an arrest for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness and never returned it.
Johns testified on his own behalf that he meant to return Jackson's ID, but did not. He also denied having any involvement in the prostitute's business. He said that after discovering that she used his card, he canceled the account.
Johns could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
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