Inmate accused of falsely reporting sexual assault
A Butler County inmate is accused of falsely claiming that a corrections officer inappropriately touched him during a strip search last month.
Andrew T. Halaburka, 27, of Homestead, Allegheny County on Monday waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Butler on misdemeanor charges of false swearing and falsely reports to law enforcement authorities. He remains free on $2,500 bail
Halaburka on Aug.29 reported to prison officials that the officer had grabbed his private parts following a so-called “cell extraction” operation, which is the forcible removal of a prisoner from his cell.
The defendant and his cellmate were removed because they refused to close their cell door as instructed, according to court documents.
He claimed he was sexually assaulted during the subsequent body search.
Halaburka had been booked into the prison on Aug. 24 following his arrest on a bench warrant for failing to appear at a court hearing stemming from a 2014 misdemeanor retail theft case, according to prison officials and court records.
He was arraigned on the latest charges Sept. 4 and released Saturday after posting bail.
Read more about this case in the Butler Eagle.
