Trespassing Suspect Asked to Leave Town

If suspect William Lee Kernan followed district Judge Robert Wyda's orders, he should be back in South Carolina or on his way down.

Kernan, 47, of West Columbia, SC, is facing one count of resisting arrest, one count of defiant trespass and two counts of disorderly conduct. District Judge Wyda scheduled a review hearing in six months, released Kernan into his Mt. Lebanon father's care and ordered Kernan to book a plane ticket to fly home to South Carolina on Tuesday. He is not to return to Pennsylvania during those six months and only his lawyer is required to appear at his next hearing.

On Aug. 1, Upper St. Clair police arrested Kernan outside of the on McLaughlin Run Road.

Officer Brian McGuire testified at Monday's hearing that Kernan was asked never to return to the fitness club, but he did. He also said club employees received complaints about Kernan from members who were "creeped out." 

Officer McGuire said as soon as he saw the police enter the fitness club, Kernan got into the aqua massage machine. The officers waited ten minutes until the time expired, but according to Officer McGuire, Kernan hit the restart button and they had to unplug the machine from the electrical outlet.

Officer McGuire testified that they then brought Kernan outside of the club, where he gave them a fake name and address and refused to cooperate. It took three officers to arrest Kernan because the officer said he refused to put his hands behind his back.

The officers retrieved Kernan's keys from his fanny pack and later learned of his true identity through a car rental company.

Pat Slowey, an assistant manager at the club, also testified during Monday's hearing. He said before Aug. 1, the owners told him to watch out for a man who wore sunglasses, a West Virginia University shirt and hat, had purple-painted toe nails and would buy a one-day pass to the gym.

Slowey said, "He didn't really do anything, but he was weirding people out."

Officer McGuire said the St. Clair Fitness Club incidents were not the only time Kernan worried the residents of Upper St. Clair. The officer said Kernan previously was kicked out of the for bringing alcohol into the outdoor pool area. Officer McGuire said Kernan also made inappropriate and sexual comments to 15-year-old girls at the pool and got into the sandbox with small children.

Officer McGuire said Kernan also bothered employees at Bruegger's on Washington Road, but the employees did not get the police involved.

Kernan spent one week in the Allegheny County Jail. An Allegheny County psychological evaluation determined he was competent for trial.