3 young children test positive for cocaine, leading to charges against Westmoreland County man

A Westmoreland County man is facing charges after detectives said three young children tested positive for cocaine. 

Thirty-year-old Josiah Hughes was charged with several counts of endangering the welfare of children after the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office said the three children, ages 5, 3 and 1, were found living in deplorable conditions and tested positive for cocaine in their systems.  

The district attorney's office said the investigation into 30-year-old Josiah Hughes of Arnold began in May as county detectives helped the Children's Bureau and Arnold police with a child endangerment case.

Investigators said authorities had received a ChildLine report saying Hughes had left the three young children alone with no supervision inside their home on Woodmont Avenue in Arnold. 

The district attorney's office said case workers with the Children's Bureau found the three children living in deplorable conditions and took custody of them. They were examined at UPMC Children's Hospital, where detectives said all three tested positive for cocaine.

"Ever since I moved in here, I've seen a lot of problems over there," said neighbor Ashley McVicker. 

Neighbor Debbie Conwell says there were many signs of trouble coming from the red brick house on the corner. She said the small children were often seen wandering the street alone, prompting her and other neighbors to call police. 

"Cops were up here twice, they had to retrieve the kids. They were running the neighborhood. They couldn't be no more than 2 or 3 and they had to knock on the door and he was sleeping and they said 'you better wake up or else something else is going to happen,'" Conwell said. 

Neighbors said they're relieved the children are safe and hope they can finally get the care and stability they need.

"I'm glad they got him, and the kids, they're probably better off wherever they're at," Conwell said.

"Glad the kids, it's being taken care of now. Very glad. They don't deserve that at all," McVicker said. 

Hughes was arrested on three felony counts of endangering the welfare of children. He was arraigned and is expected to be back in court later this month.