Former West Hazleton police chief Brian Buglio was sentenced Tuesday to serve two months in federal prison followed by another four months on house arrest for threatening a citizen with criminal charges in retaliation for social media posts critical of the West Hazleton Police Department.

Buglio, 46, of Lattimer Mines, previously pleaded guilty to a federal count of deprivation of rights under color of law, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison.

Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr. imposed the sentence Tuesday, describing the effort by a police chief to stifle a citizen’s First Amendment rights by fabricating criminal charges as “troubling.”

“When you used your position to advance your own personal interests, that’s abuse of power,” Saporito said.

Buglio offered a brief apology to the court and to the victim, Paul DeLorenzo, saying there is “no excuse” for what he did.

“I was defending the reputation of my department,” Buglio said. “It should have been handled differently.”

According to prosecutors, DeLorenzo made several social media posts in February 2020 that were critical of Buglio as well as the borough police department.

In court Tuesday, DeLorenzo revealed the posts were related to Buglio being one of three Kidder Township police officers who were suspended in 2004 when a woman accused them of sexual assault. Buglio was never charged in connection with that incident.

In response to the Facebook posts, Buglio began leaving voicemails for DeLorenzo informing him he needed to retain a lawyer because he was being charged with sexual assault.

Saporito noted that sexual assault charges are among the most serious and stigmatizing criminal offenses and said he was troubled that a police chief would fabricate such allegations.

DeLorenzo told the judge he believes that had he not gone to the FBI and worn a wire during a March 4, 2020, meeting — during which there was an explicit agreement that DeLorenzo would not be arrested if he ceased the Facebook posts — that he would have ended up in prison.

“I endured an incredible amount of stress because of the illegal actions of Chief Buglio,” DeLorenzo told the court in requesting the maximum prison sentence for Buglio. “You have a chance to send a message — a loud and clear message.”

Because he has no criminal history, Buglio faced a sentencing guideline range of six to 12 months in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo-Garrison sought a sentence of “no greater” than six months in prison, acknowledging that Buglio violated the public trust but also noting his “lifetime of public service.”

“We don’t overlook all of the good things that he’s done for his community,” Caraballo-Garrison said.

His attorney, Fortunato N. Perri Jr., urged the judge to instead impose a probationary sentence, stressing Buglio’s lifetime of service as a law officer and to his community. The defense also provided the court with a number of letters detailing Buglio’s character, including from former Hazleton Police Chief Frank DeAndrea.

“There are times when a good and decent person does a bad thing, and that’s what we have here,” Perri said. “His reputation — because of what he did, no one else’s fault — has been devastated.”

Saporito noted Buglio’s long service as a police officer and agreed he posed little risk of re-offending, but also noted that Buglio’s actions had “blackened the eyes” of law enforcement in general.

The judge ordered Buglio to serve two months in a federal prison followed by a year of probation with the first four months on house arrest. Buglio was directed to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons on Nov. 5.

He will also be required to pay a $5,025 fine and will not be allowed to serve in any position wielding the powers of arrest or to levy fines while he is on probation.

Buglio declined to comment as he left the courthouse.

Buglio, who was hired in 1996 and was promoted to chief in 2009, resigned after being charged, as his plea agreement required.

Three days after Buglio pleaded guilty in the case, West Hazleton council voted unanimously to hire him as full-time public safety director at a rate of $31 per hour.

The public safety director “provides direction and organization for the safety and security of the entire borough” but does not have arrest powers, according to the job description.

After the hearing, DeLorenzo said it “felt good” to hear Buglio take responsibility for his actions.

“I hope he learns from his mistake and continues on with his life,” DeLorenzo said.

DeLorenzo on Monday filed a civil lawsuit against Buglio and the Borough of West Hazleton.

The federal suit, filed in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleges First Amendment retaliation and violation of rights under the Pennsylvania Constitution by the defendants. For each of the two charges, DeLorenzo is requesting “compensatory damages in excess of $75,000,” as well as attorney fees, litigation costs and unspecified punitive damages, court papers state.

The court papers were filed by DeLorenzo’s attorney, A. Charles Peruto Jr. of Philadelphia. No trial date has been set in the civil case.