Oct 25, 2018 2 min read

A Washington councilman was one of four people charged Tuesday by North Franklin Township police with unsworn falsification after they allegedly inaccurately responded to a question on an application to purchase a gun.

Matthew Staniszewski, 41, of 23 Buttonwood Ave., Washington, who is in his first term on council after previously serving several years ago, is also charged with improper sale or transfer of firearms. Also facing those charges are Randolph Capski, 57, of 300 W. Dividing Ridge Road, Prosperity; Patrick Lee Heyz, 42, of 517 Galaxy Drive, Washington, and Richard Steven Pustovrh, 27, of 109 Pine Ave., Houston.

Staniszewski, according to court documents filed by police, was attempting to purchase a Ruger 9mm handgun on March 26 at Rural King, Washington Crown Center. He had completed the required Pennsylvania Instant Check System paperwork. Police said he falsely answered “no” to a question asking whether he had been convicted of a crime for which he could have been sentenced to a year in jail.

When contacted Wednesday, Staniszewski referred comment to his defense attorney Christopher Blackwell. Blackwell did not return a call.

In 2008, Staniszewski was given a jail sentence of 90 days to 6 months after pleading guilty to two, separate drunken driving charges, including one stemming from a crash outside the Super 8 motel off Morganza Road in North Strabane Township. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to a summary charge of public drunkenness after an incident at a North Strabane restaurant.

The other three men were also attempting to purchase guns at Rural King in March. Czapski’s request was denied because he reportedly had a warrant in Georgia charging him with theft. The applications for Hetz and Pustovrh were also denied because of their prior criminal background.

The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.