WESTMORELAND COUNTY JUDGE GRANTS RELEASE FOR TIME SERVED

A Westmoreland County judge is granting a release for time served on drug charges related to a 2023 fatal overdose.  Hugh Hawkey pleaded guilty to lesser drug-related charges after prosecutors dropped charges of drug delivery resulting in death due to a judge’s ruling of insufficient evidence.  Hawkey was arrested last year in connection with the overdose death of 43-year-old Eric Cummings.  Hawkey has served 370 days in prison and will be released to a drug treatment program, pending a drug and alcohol addiction evaluation.