GREENSBURG — A state senator was acquitted Friday of charges that he lied about where he stored a gun used in the apparent suicide of his 14-year-old neighbor, who had been caring for the family's dogs while the senator and his wife were out of town.

Sen. Robert Regola III had been charged with perjury, reckless endangerment and allowing a minor, his son, to illegally possess the weapon. Prosecutors had argued that Regola was lying when he denied at a coroner's inquest that his son, Bobby, ever kept the gun in his room.

The freshman lawmaker, who is running for re-election, could have been removed from office had he been found guilty of perjury or the endangerment count — both felonies.

The charges stemmed from the July 2006 death of Regola's neighbor, Louis Farrell, who was found shot to death in woods behind their homes with the senator's 9 mm Taurus pistol nearby.

Regola, 45, did not speak after the verdict, but released a statement saying he was pleased.

"I hope that today's verdict will bring some closure to this tragic episode to everyone involved," the statement said.

Regola's attorney, Charles Porter Jr., said the verdict was "100 percent accurate."