DA's office withdraws kidnapping charges filed against Arnold assistant fire chief

Criminal charges have been withdrawn against an Arnold assistant fire chief, who, along with his teenage son, was accused of kidnapping the son’s pregnant girlfriend and holding her against her will for over a month.

The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office withdrew five charges, including kidnapping and burglary, that were filed against Brian James Gouza, 47, in November.

“I’m ecstatic,” Gouza said. “I can go back to work. My nightmare is over.”

The charges were withdrawn on Thursday, the same day a preliminary hearing was scheduled before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. in New Kensington. The hearing was not held.

Nick Gouza’s preliminary hearing has been continued until June. The elder Gouza said the alleged victim wants his son to undergo anger management counseling, and if he successfully completes that, his charges could also be withdrawn.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck wasn’t able to say by press time why charges against the elder Gouza were withdrawn or whether charges against the younger Gouza would be withdrawn upon completion of counseling.

The elder Gouza said the situation has been difficult for him and his family.

Gouza was suspended from Arnold Citizens Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 as well as Citizens Hose Ambulance Service in Harrison.

“It’s been horrible,” Gouza said. “My reputation has been so tarnished over all this it’s not even funny. My house got egged, I got hate messages, people telling me that they hope I rot in jail.”

Gouza’s attorney, Duke George, said it’s unfortunate Gouza was suspended.

“My client really didn’t do anything. He just happened to be there,” George said. “Hopefully, they’re going to take him back and everything is going to work out for him and the family.”

Arnold Mayor Joe Bia said Gouza has been reinstated at the fire department. Jim Erb, EMS supervisor for Citizens Hose Ambulance Service, said Gouza, an EMT, will be put back on the schedule.

Erb said it was a shock to learn Gouza had been criminally charged.

“Whenever charges actually get put against somebody like that, it’s kind of a gut punch,” Erb said. “They’re very serious charges, so you‘ve got to assume that the charges are for real — whether you’re friends with these people or not — but at the same time you hope for the best. Charges like that you hope are definitely not true.”

Gouza reaffirmed what he told the Tribune-Review in November: that the allegations were untrue.

The woman’s claim

The woman told Arnold police she was at an apartment on Leishman Avenue on Sept. 3 when she received a flurry of phone calls from the Gouzas, according to criminal complaints. She said she refused to answer.

After that, the woman said, the Gouzas arrived at the apartment, came inside without her permission and forced her to leave. Surveillance video shared with police appeared to show Nick Gouza, 16, screaming at the woman to walk and, when she refused, picking her up over his shoulder and carrying her down the stairs, the complaints said.

The woman said after they got downstairs, Nick Gouza threw her into the back seat of his father’s car. She said Brian Gouza got into the car and drove them to his New Kensington home.

She told police that she was unable to leave the home because both Gouzas kept a constant watch on her. The woman told police she was able to get away on Oct. 30 when New Kensington police were called to the home to investigate a reported domestic dispute.

Gouza’s denial

“That’s not what happened,” Gouza said. “That’s not how it happened at all.”

The elder Gouza said the alleged victim is his son’s ex-girlfriend, and she had been living at his home before the alleged incident took place.

Gouza said he and his son went to the apartment because the couple was having an argument, and he wanted them to talk in person. The couple talked, and the elder Gouza suggested they go back home. The victim agreed, and the three went to Gouza’s house, he said.

“He picked her up and carried her, which was an every day kind of thing. He did it all the time” in a playful manner, Gouza said.

In regard to the Oct. 30 incident, Gouza said his son and the woman got into an argument and his son broke her cellphone.

Duke George said the woman wanted the Gouzas to pay for her cellphone, which they did.

“Hopefully he’ll get back to work and it’ll all be over and they live happily ever after,” George said.