Former McKeesport Teacher's Aide Headed To Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A former teacher's aide in the McKeesport Area School District is headed to trial on charges she had alleged inappropriate sexual relationships with students.
Michelle Mellinger, a special education teacher's aide, was tearful as she left the courtroom Monday where she waived her right to a preliminary hearing.
She's charged with sexual contact with students and corruption of minors.
A total of six male students, ages 15 to 17, now allege they were involved in sex acts with her. Two more alleged victims came forward after the original case came to light.
"There are two separate criminal complaints," said defense attorney Jeffrey Wasak. "One contains four victims, one contains two other ones that came forward at a later point in time, so there are a total of six alleged victims, but they are separated between two separate criminal complaints."
The original four claimed they would make contact with her by way of text message to arrange a time to meet.
They told police she would then take them to her apartment in White Oak and engage in sex acts with her.
While she was in court she complained to the judge that her phone contacts at the jail are severely restricted, which is a possible outgrowth of concerns she not contact any of the alleged victims.
"My client tells me that she has not been able to make phone calls out of the jail to her family," said Wasak. "I'm going to work on that. I think it's appropriate in spite of whatever charge a person may be facing that they be allowed to have some contact over the phone with family members who are obviously concerned about her well-being."
When she was charged, she was placed on leave by the district. Her lawyer says she has effectively been fired and her landlord has moved to evict her.
Wasak describes his client as distraught. He asked District Judge Thomas Miller to reduce her bond from $50,000, but the judge kept it where it is.
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