http://www.post-gazette.com/local/c...center-child-porn-charge/stories/201705240201
Pitt counseling center director charged with possessing child porn
ANDREW GOLDSTEIN AND ALEX WEIDENHOF
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The director of the University of Pittsburgh’s counseling center has been arrested on charges he was in possession of child pornography.
Edward J. Michaels, 67, of Wilkinsburg was charged Tuesday by Allegheny County Police with possessing child porn and criminal use of a communication facility. A university spokesman said Mr. Michaels has been placed on leave.
According to a police affidavit, a Wilkinsburg police sergeant went to Mr. Michaels’ Old Gate Road home on March 27 after receiving a tip from a concerned person who had seen photographs of young girls at the residence.
The sergeant found photos of apparently prepubescent girls in sexually explicit poses at Mr. Michaels’ home, the affidavit said. The sergeant seized two laptop computers, two USB memory sticks and several hundred loose photographs, according to the affidavit.
County police detectives reviewed the evidence and said it included photos of young girls in various stages of undress, a naked girl lying on a bed, and other sexually explicit images.
Mr. Michaels was arraigned Wednesday night and was released on non-monetary bond.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 1 with District Judge Kim Marie Hoots in Wilkinsburg.
Mr. Michaels’ could not be reached Wednesday, and court documents did not list an attorney for him.
His biography on the Pitt website says he joined the university’s division of student affairs as the counseling center director in 2015. He chairs the school’s mental health task force, which promotes student well-being, according to the biography.
“The university is cooperating fully with authorities conducting the investigation,” Pitt spokesman Joe Miksch said in an email. “Michaels, who has been a member of the staff for two years, served in an administrative role, and was not assigned clients.”
Andrew Goldstein: agoldstein@post-gazette.com. Alex Weidenhof: aweidenhof@post-gazette.com.
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/c...center-child-porn-charge/stories/201705240201