Nude photos were at the heart of an argument between a couple that led to the boyfriend being arrested and charged Wednesday in Cranberry Township.

An argument at a parking lot on Route 19 between Ronald D. Festa III, 28, of New Kensington, and his girlfriend escalated Wednesday night when the girlfriend found nude photographs of another woman on Festa’s cellphone, according to a Cranberry Township Police report.

Festa in turn became angry with his girlfriend and allegedly kicked a side mirror off a car owned by his girlfriend’s father. The girlfriend called police, who eventually found Festa.

According to police, Festa does not have a valid permit to carry a firearm, but they discovered him in possession of a pistol he allegedly stole from his father.

District Judge David Kovach arraigned Festa early Thursday on charges of felony possession of a firearm without a license and misdemeanors of vandalism and criminal mischief. He’s being held in Butler County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bond.

When police arrived at the parking lot of 20510 Route 19, they saw Festa hide behind a new Subaru. Authorities report he allegedly dropped something to the ground.

While speaking with police, Festa denied breaking the mirror, blamed the damage on an accident, and told police his girlfriend was “crazy.” But when they spoke to the girlfriend, she said Festa became angry with her after she discovered nude photos of a woman on his phone.

Police estimate the damage to the car at $501.

The girlfriend told police the couple traveled to Cranberry Township to buy the Subaru. Near the new car, police found the loaded pistol, which Festa allegedly dropped when police first approached him.

Festa’s father, when contacted by police, told investigators he noticed the gun was missing after a recent visit from his son, but didn’t report it missing because he didn’t want his son to get into “any more trouble.”

Festa was arrested and taken to a holding cell in the Cranberry Township Police Department. There, police said he began wetting toilet paper and flinging it. Police said it stuck to the walls, and went through the cell door and onto the floor outside the cell. Police estimated the cleanup cost $100.

Festa is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 17.