Crime & Safety
Man Accused of Burglarizing Vacant Home with Boy Heading to Trial
The most serious charges against William Gregory, the man accused of burglarizing a vacant home with his 7-year-old nephew, have been dropped, although he will head to trial on several other counts.
The most serious charges against have been dropped while several others were waived to trial.
In a deal reached with William Gregory before his preliminary hearing this week, agreed to withdraw burglary and theft charges, while reducing the severity of a felony criminal trespassing charge.
Gregory, 21, of Carnegie, will still head to trial on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors, criminal mischief and one count of felony criminal trespassing. He and his defense attorney agreed to waive those charges during his preliminary hearing Monday before .
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Police accused Gregory of bringing his young nephew with him when they allegedly entered a vacant house on Baldwin Street around noon on May 15. They broke a glass window in the basement to escape when a witness near the house startled them, police said.
Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said it’s not uncommon for officers to withdraw some charges during a preliminary hearing in order for others to move to trial. King said he is more concerned about why the young boy was with him when they allegedly entered the vacant house.
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“He was still in a structure that did not belong to him. He still entered someone else’s house,” King said. “My question is why was he there with that kid? He won’t answer that and no one else will say.”
King said they told him they were in the house to get washers and wheels for the boy’s skateboard. However, King said he’s not sure if either one of them possessed a skateboard.
Children, Youth and Families of Allegheny County is looking into the matter and why the 7-year-old boy was not in school at the time.
McGraw-Desmet reduced Gregory’s bail to a $1,000 percentage bond, although King said he remains in Allegheny County Jail on a probation violation for allegedly bringing a knife onto school property in Carnegie. A trial date in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court has not been schedule.
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