Youth Care Worker Accused Of Asking Teen Being Held In Detention Center For Sex

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A youth care worker at a local detention center has been suspended and is facing criminal charges after allegedly asking a teenager there for sex.

Derrick Dawkins, 38, works at Shuman Detention Center as a youth care worker.

The alleged incident took place in August at Shuman.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim in this case, a 16-year-old girl, was using the facility's recreation room while Dawkins and a few other staff members were supervising the residents.

The complaint says Dawkins passed the girl a handwritten note under the desk. In the note, Dawkins allegedly asked the teen if she would have sex with him when she got out of Shuman.

The teen, according to the complaint, wrote back saying: "I don't know. It depends."

Dawkins is accused of later confronting the teen, allegedly taking her into a security booth and questioning her about what she did with the note.

The teen told police she was scared and sick to her stomach because Dawkins was an authority figure and was afraid of what could happen if she did not cooperate with him.

Investigators say they saw the incident take place on surveillance video from the recreation area of the facility.

Earl Hill, the director of the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, released this statement:

"Shuman's mission is to provide safe, secure custody and promote the health and well-being of youths committed to its care. We take that charge very seriously and acted immediately upon the report of this incident. It was reported to staff by the juvenile the day after it occurred. Staff notified Shuman's leadership, who immediately reported it to Allegheny County Police to investigate further."

Dawkins started working with the county in September of 2012. He's currently suspended without pay. He faces multiple charges.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter