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Police: Principal Exposed Self To Teen At Health Club

BROOKLINE (KDKA/AP) - A Pittsburgh Public Schools principal has been placed on leave after police charged him with exposing himself to a 17-year-old boy in a suburban health club sauna, and asking if he could perform a sex act on the youth.

James Ecker, the defense attorney for 37-year-old Alfonzo DeIuliis, acknowledged the charges look "extremely bad" but added, "Hopefully, things will look better by the end."

Police in McCandless Township charged the defendant, principal of the Brookline PreK-8 school, with indecent assault, indecent exposure and other crimes.

The warrant stems from two incidents at the McCandless LA Fitness center, one in the men's shower in February.

McCandless Police Chief Gary Anderson: "The victim in that case was an adult male."

KDKA's John Shumway: "Why wasn't he charged in February?"

Chief Anderson: "We didn't have a victim that was prepared to testify at that time."

Shumway: "But things have changed?"

Chief Anderson: "Yes."

The other incident happened earlier this month in the center's sauna involving a teenage boy.

The 17-year-old alleges that he was assaulted by an individual identified as Alfonzo DeIuliis of Allison Park.

Police say the defendant fondled himself, before touching the boy's leg and making the sexual offer.

The boy was unable to identify DeIuliis after the Aug. 12 incident until he saw him again at the club on Monday evening, and McCandless Police were called.

According to a statement from Pittsburgh Public Schools, DeIuliis was sent home Tuesday when the school district learned about a warrant for his arrest.

The statement also said, the incident did not involve a Pittsburgh Public Schools student.

DeIuliis will remain on leave pending the results of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Ecker says his client doesn't know his accuser.

"As far as I know, they didn't have any relationship, and as far as what I've heard, he didn't know him," Ecker said.

He says wait for the trial.

"At that time things may look a lot different than they do right now. It's very easy for someone to accuse someone of something," Ecker added.

DeIuliis has been with the district since 2001 and became principal of Pittsburgh-Brookline in July of this year.

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