Jan 15, 2015 2 min read

Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo refused to accept a plea agreement Thursday for a Washington police officer accused of tipping off a prostitute about undercover sting operations while allegedly carrying on a sexual relationship with her for several years, citing the severity of the crime.

Joshua J. Rush, 39, of North Strabane Township, was scheduled to plead guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and hindering prosecution in exchange for 12 months of probation and his resignation from Washington Police Department. A reckless endangerment charge would have been dropped.

However, Costanzo refused to accept the agreement offered by the district attorney’s office and gave Rush two options. He could continue the case to a later date or accept an open plea that would allow Costanzo to impose a sentence of her choice. Rush and his attorney, Joseph Francis, choose to continue the matter. A new court date has not been scheduled.

Rush, who is suspended without pay, is accused of sending text messages to a woman Sept. 17, warning her of an undercover prostitution sting operation by the District Attorney’s Drug Task Force in Washington that day. Police said Rush also tried to distract his supervisor while they drove together in an unmarked car during the sting. After the two parted ways, the supervisor went back into the area of West Walnut and North Franklin streets and allegedly was solicited by the woman, Beth Ann Davis.

Davis, who goes by the street name Butterfly, offered the undercover officer sex in exchange for “donations” before a uniformed Washington patrolman pulled over the vehicle they were in about a half-mile away, according to court documents. Davis then requested to speak to Rush, according to court testimony Thursday.

Police said she had text messages from Rush on her cellphone warning her of the sting that day. Investigators said they also found text messages indicating the two were carrying on a sexual relationship for about five years after Rush arrested Davis for prostitution in 2007.

Davis, 31, of Wheeling, W.Va., was charged with prostitution. A preliminary hearing on the charge is scheduled for Feb. 18 before District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Francis declined to comment after the hearing.

Rush remains free on $10,000 unsecured bond.