Charges dropped against hotel's homeless squatter
Published in Weird News
PITTSBURGH (UPI) -- A homeless man found sleeping on a couch in a $2,500-per-night Pittsburgh hotel suite will go free without charges, prosecutors announced.
Pittsburgh prosecutors said they have decided not to pursue charges against Jeffrey Watson, 48, who had been arrested for criminal trespass and theft of services in November of last year when he has found on a couch in the 16th floor presidential suite of the Omni William Penn Hotel.
Watson had been in jail since the November incident due to his inability to post $15,000 bond.
Allegheny County District Attorney's Office spokesman Mike Manko said he could not comment on the case.
Jeremy Rosen, director of advocacy for the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty in Washington, D.C., welcomed the announcement.
"I certainly don't think it's productive to charge somebody in that situation and have them spend time in jail," Rosen told TribLive. Instead, they should be trying to connect him with local service groups to help him find a job, housing and benefits.
Copyright 2014 by United Press International
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