Councilman Awaiting Trial to be Sworn in Tuesday

Councilman-elect Sean McNear is expected to be sworn in to office Tuesday, despite awaiting a court appearance for a judge to rule on charges he had allegedly endangered the welfare of his child.

McNear was arrested in November when authorities said he allegedly choked and punched his seven-year-old son, in addition to pointing a loaded BB gun at him over the past two years. He was charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

McNear, 43, is one of two candidates who each for two open seats on the Butler Council.

Butler Borough Clerk Mary O'Keefe said Thursday that she has not heard any indication that either councilman-elect did not plan to be sworn in at the borough's reorganization meeting Tuesday night.

After his appearance in municipal court on Dec. 14, McNear's attorney, Peter Gilbreth, said McNear planned on all charges. McNear appeared for a preliminary hearing in Morris County court on Wednesday, but was given another date to appear on Feb. 6 before Judge Thomas V. Manahan.