Former East McKeesport Official Pleads Guilty In Child Sex Trafficking Case
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – East McKeesport's former public works director has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a child sex trafficking case.
Joseph Clemenic Jr., 44, of Wilmerding, resigned from his position in East McKeesport earlier this month.
A joint investigation by the FBI, Allegheny County Police and Pittsburgh Police led to Clemenic's arrest. In federal court Tuesday, he waived his indictment and pleaded guilty to the charge.
According to the factual narrative read in federal court, Clemenic allegedly used the website Backpage.com to connect with a sex trafficker and request to have girls come to his home for sex.
Virginia Snyder, who lives a few doors down from Clemenic, told KDKA, "It's disgusting, disgusting. You're messing with a young child, that is nasty. As soon as I heard about that, I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm walking my kid passed this man's house."
The narrative indicates that during March and April of this year, Clemenic allegedly exchanged text messages with the sex trafficker, and on one occasion, paid for sex acts with a 15-year-old.
The text messages also revealed that Clemenic is accused of specifically requesting girls ages 15 and 16. He admitted that at least three girls, all minors, came to his home for purposes of sex and he paid for sex with them.
Clemenic is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10.
He also faces charges in District Court, including unlawful contact with a minor and promoting prostitution. His preliminary hearing for those charges is scheduled for July 23.
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