Man sought by U.S. marshals on warrant arrested in New Kensington; felony gun charges filed
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A man being sought by U.S. marshals was charged with illegal possession of a handgun after New Kensington police helped take him into custody.
In addition to a felony gun charge, Richard Joseph Mautino, 20, of the 500 block of Fourth Avenue was charged with felony flight to avoid apprehension along with resisting arrest.
He is being detained in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a $75,000 cash bond, according to court records. He faces a preliminary hearing July 14 before District Judge Frank Pallone Jr., court records show.
New Kensington police say they were contacted by U.S. Marshals Service about 7 a.m. June 15 with a request to assist them with serving an arrest warrant for Mautino at the apartment on Fourth Avenue.
A woman who lives in the second-floor apartment met police at the door and told them her two young children and Mautino were inside the home, according to a criminal complaint.
The woman was able to call the children out of the home, but Mautino refused to surrender, prompting police to request a SWAT team to the scene, the complaint said.
While waiting for the special weapons and tactics unit to arrive, officers spotted Mautino on the roof before he jumped onto the roof of another apartment and then down onto the street below, police said.
Police chased Mautino on foot through nearby yards before catching up to him, according to the complaint.
Investigators said Mautino resisted arrest until a New Kensington officer deployed a Taser to subdue him, the complaint said. Officers noted that two shots from the device were needed to get Mautino under control.
Police said the woman who leases the apartment gave them permission to search the residence along with her minivan, which was parked nearby.
Detectives who searched the apartment said they found a Glock .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with six rounds in the living room closet along with Mautino’s state-issued identification card, the complaint said.
An unassembled Jennings .22-caliber pistol was found in a fireproof box on a living room shelf and had all the parts present to build a working weapon, police said.
A Pro Mag brand extended magazine for a Glock semi-automatic pistol that is capable of holding 50 rounds of ammunition was found inside a fanny pack in the living room, police said. It was loaded with 19 live rounds.
A Pearce Grip brand extended magazine loaded with 11 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition also was confiscated by investigators, the complaint said.
Police noted in Mautino’s arrest papers that he is not permitted to possess a firearm because he pleaded guilty to felony escape in 2019.
Mautino was arrested in September by Springdale police and charged with felony counts of fleeing to avoid arrest and possession of drugs with the intent to deliver. He was a passenger in a vehicle that led police on a chase.
He was released from custody after a Pittsburgh bail agency posted a $25,000 bond on his behalf.
Court records reveal that Mautino did not show up for a Sept. 27 preliminary hearing before District Judge David Sosovica, who ordered him to stand trial on the charges.