A federal judge in Johns­town has rejected a request by a former Altoona police detective to modify his release to home detention while awaiting sentencing on federal gun charges.

The former officer, Craig Zahradnik, 52, of Altoona, last December entered guilty pleas to seven charges related to the production and distribution of “ghost guns” and “hit kits” — an enterprise that included two partners, Harry Miller of Martinsburg and Wayne Farabaugh of New Paris.

All three have entered pleas to federal charges, but so far Miller, 48, is the only one who has been sentenced.

Federal District Judge Stephanie L. Haines in Johnstown imposed a 120-month sentence on Miller when he appeared in her courtroom last May.

Miller is incarcerated in the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto.

He has since filed an appeal to his sentence with the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, although the appeal is not available for public inspection.

It was noted during his sentencing hearing that he could face additional time in state prison upon the completion of his federal term. The defense argued for a lesser federal sentence in view of additional state time in Miller’s future.

Farabaugh, 55, is expected to be sentenced within two weeks.

He has been cooperative with investigators and testified for the prosecution during Miller’s sentencing hearing.

Zahradnik entered pleas to seven charges that included conspiracy to engage in the manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license, illegally transferring guns, trafficking in firearms in furtherance of a felony, possession of machine guns and transferring unregistered firearms.

Haines scheduled Zahradnik’s sentencing for April, but postponed it upon information that the defendant was seriously ill.

His attorney, Robert S. Carey Jr., of Pittsburgh, then requested that Zahradnik be released from further detention in order to address his illness.

The judge in late March agreed to the placement of Zahradnik on home detention.

Federal authorities did not object to the home detention request but also posed conditions that included that he be restricted to his residence.

One of the conditions of Zahradnik’s release is that the defense submit monthly updates on his medical condition.

His sentencing hearing continues to be postponed based on the monthly reports.

However, the defense attorney earlier this month sought a modification of Zahradnik’s release.

The request reported that Zahradnik, to leave his residence, must submit a schedule to the federal probation office each week.

Attorney Carey, in his request, called the requirement to constantly submit requests to leave home detention “unnecessary and impractical.”

He noted that the home detention order means his client is unable to undertake personal errands.

The defense sought a modification to “allow flexibility for necessary personal errands.”

It instead asked the judge to set a curfew.

Haines this week denied the requested modification.

“The court finds that good cause does not exist for the modification. …The conditions of home detention remain in effect as currently ordered,” the judge ruled.

According to the defense petition, the government “does not have a position in this request.”