Greensburg, PA – Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announces a guilty plea in the criminal case against former Greensburg Police Chief Shawn Denning.

Denning pleaded guilty to three counts of tampering with evidence in front of Common Pleas Judge Michael Stewart. 

Judge Stewart sentenced Denning to serve one year of probation as a result of his guilty plea. 

Following the federal indictment and arrest of Denning, Greensburg City Police Department requested an audit of the evidence room to preserve the integrity and credibility of department investigations.

County detectives performed an audit of the evidence room and a separate storage space designated for the destruction of evidence in February of 2023.

After a thorough investigation of all of the evidence, current and slated for destruction, county detectives found a single backpack containing various illegal steroids and suspected psilocybin mushrooms missing.

Denning had access to the evidence room and the destruction of evidence as the chief. The backpack was part of a drug case in which Denning was the investigating officer.

Upon further investigation, the case involving the backpack was classified as previously closed.

The backpack was slated for destruction but was never actually destroyed Detectives were never able to locate the backpack or recover its contents. 

Denning is currently serving a sentence of 15 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking as a result of a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. 

"As an officer who was sworn to uphold and enforce the law, Mr. Denning broke the public’s trust and undermined the oath he took to protect and serve. His sentencing was within the state sentencing guidelines, and his plea today ensures accountability while he remains incarcerated and continues to serve his federal sentence," DA Ziccarelli said in a statement.