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Bethel Park teacher arrested by North Strabane police on internet sex charges

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A health teacher at Bethel Park High School was arrested Friday morning by North Strabane Township police on charges including unlawful contact with a minor and open lewdness for allegedly having inappropriate contact with a person he believed was a 15-year-old female Canon-McMillan student.

Brian Douglas Scott, 46, was taken into custody at his home at 1589 Lucille Drive, Bethel Park, after search warrants were executed by township police along with Bethel Park police and the federal Department of Homeland Security.

The warrants were the result of a monthlong investigation into the unlawful contact with a minor, said North Strabane Chief Brian Hughes. Officers and agents searched the home, vehicles and Scott.

School district solicitor Trish Andrews confirmed Scott is employed there and was suspended immediately when officials learned of the charges Friday. Scott also is banned from district property, she said.

North Strabane Officer Gary Scherer, who is a member of the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, was monitoring a teen chat room intended for people ages 13 to 19 June 20. Scherer posed in an undercover capacity as a 15-year-old girl from the North Strabane area. Police said Scott, who posed as a 17-year-old boy from the Pittsburgh area, made contact with the person he believed was the teenage girl.

Once contact was made, Scott initiated a sexual dialogue and then sent a live video of himself masturbating, Hughes said. Scherer indicated in court documents he could see a tattoo of a wedding ring on the left ring finger of the suspect, later identified as Scott.

At one point, the undercover officer said he was actually 13, not 15. Police said Scott acknowledged this and later contacted the undercover officer a second time, again initiating a sexual dialogue and sending another live video of himself masturbating.

Scott allegedly remained in text message contact with the person he believed to be the girl.

Police said a Homeland Security special agent obtained search warrants for the internet address being used and determined it was assigned to Scott, who went by the user name “tiny dancer.”

Seized during the search Friday were a computer, cellphone and a T-shirt the suspect reportedly wore during one of the videos.

During his arraignment before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of unlawful contact with a minor, open lewdness and criminal use of a communications facility, Scott said he had been a teacher at Bethel Park for 22 or 23 years. He also told Weller he had never been arrested and had no disciplinary issues as part of his employment with the district.

“He looked, on paper, to be squeaky clean,” Scherer told Weller.

Scott told Weller he was disappointed in himself.

“I am embarrassed and ashamed,” Scott said.

Scherer told Weller Scott had been cooperative and that he did not consider him to be a flight risk. Weller released Scott on $50,000 unsecured bond, placing conditions on his release.

Weller emphasized to Scott he is to have no access to the internet and must surrender his passport. Scott told the judge he does not have a passport. Weller also told Scott he is to have no unsupervised contact with children other than his own. He is to remain off the property of public or private schools, daycare centers and parks or playgrounds where children might be present.

Hughes said investigations like this and the department’s involvement with the state’s ICAC are beneficial for township residents.

“It helps township residents if one of their children is contacted,” Hughes said. “It helps us provide a better service. And it takes some of these people off the street.”

Scott is scheduled for a July 16 preliminary hearing before Weller.

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