Trial Ordered For Curtin After Hearing
RANKIN, Pa. -WTAE- A fired Munhall police officer accused of relationships with two teenage girls ages 15 and 17, whom he allegedly solicited via his MySpace account, will go to trial on the charges against him.
Police said Michael Curtin, 36, offered the two girls $1,000 each on the Internet to kiss their feet and suck their toes.
Investigators said Curtin also admitted offering money to still more underage girls to satisfy his foot fetish.
A parent had felt that her daughter had some contact that she felt wasn't quite right with a person who they believed to be a police officer in Munhall," said Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt.
During Curtin's preliminary hearing on Wednesday in Rankin, police and prosecutors acknowledged that the investigation began and widened as a result of the teen coming forward.
Six alleged victims testified on Wednesday, along with a detective who said Curtin admitted using the Web site for solicitations.
"Certainly, much of the things that came out in court today were disturbing," said defense attorney Steve Greenberg. "However, I do believe that this case has been tremendously overcharged by the Commonwealth. I think that when we get to court that many of the charges held for court today will not be held."
Curtin faces more than a dozen charges, including corruption of minors, unlawful contact with minors and criminal solicitation of indecent assault and prostitution from the MySpace probe of his alleged foot fetish.
The probe led to additional charges, involving corruption and the endangering of three additional underage girls. He's accused of indecent assault against two of them, and providing girls alcohol and letting them drive his car.
In his MySpace postings, police said Curtin actually mentioned in one solicitation, "I'm a Munhall cop."
As far as they know, police said they believe all of the alleged activity happened while Curtin was off duty.
The Munhall Borough Council voted unanimously to fire Curtin in February.
Curtin has been released from jail on $100,000 bond.
