Former MASD Teacher Charged in Abuse Case

County police investigating 11 incidents in Pleasant Hills, Jefferson Hills

By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
September 01, 2022
Posted in: Crime and Police News

(UPDATED with bond information)

A former McKeesport Area School District teacher is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond after being charged in connection with 11 alleged incidents of child sex abuse.

Eric V. Fairman, 26, is charged by Allegheny County police with multiple counts of indecent assault, corruption of minors, unlawful contact with minors and criminal use of a communications facility. Allegheny County police said Fairman surrendered this morning.

McKeesport Area school officials said Fairman resigned from his position at Founders Hall Middle School on Wednesday, when the district learned he was being investigated. He had worked there since September 2021.

Fairman also has been removed from coaching positions at West Jefferson Hills School District, school officials there said.

Police allege the incidents occurred in 2020 and 2021 in Pleasant Hills and Jefferson Hills borough, where according to published reports, Fairman served as a girls’ assistant basketball coach and former ninth-grade baseball coach at Thomas Jefferson High School.

Allegheny County police Lt. Jason Binder said in a statement that detectives are currently investigating 11 alleged incidents involving Fairman.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14 before Magisterial District Judge Michael Thatcher in Pleasant Hills.

According to criminal complaints filed in Allegheny County night court, several families told Jefferson Hills police that Fairman had inappropriate contact with children ranging in age from 10 to 12 years old.

One of the incidents allegedly happened at a sleep-over, criminal complaints state. A victim alleged that a friend was staying at his house while Fairman socialized with his parents, police said. The victim told police that Fairman came into his bedroom and touched both boys inappropriately while they were sleeping, the criminal complaint said.

In another incident, a victim alleged that he played basketball and exercised with Fairman on several occasions, and afterward, was assaulted.

According to school board minutes, Fairman was hired by McKeesport Area School District as a substitute mathematics teacher at Founders Hall in September 2021, then promoted to a full-time math teacher the following month.

In a letter released Thursday morning, McKeesport Area Superintendent Tia Wanzo said that before the district hired Fairman, it made sure that he had all appropriate and required clearances needed for working with children.

“At this time, there is (no) indication that any improper conduct happened in our buildings and/or with our students,” Wanzo said, adding the “district is fully cooperating with law enforcement personnel in their investigation.”

Wanzo said the safety of all children is “paramount and will always be the top priority” in the school district.

She urged any students, parents or families who may have information relevant to the investigation to come forward and speak to county police. The county police tip line is 1-833-255-8477.

“Building and district administrators, as well as guidance counselors and (social) workers, are available at all district buildings, if you or your student need additional assistance,” Wanzo said.

According to published reports, Fairman is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson, where he was a stand-out athlete, and later played baseball at California University of Pennsylvania.

Thomas Jefferson is located in West Jefferson Hills School District, which was notified by Jefferson Hills police on Wednesday about the allegations against Fairman, said district Superintendent Janet Sardon.

“The district immediately suspended him from his basketball coaching duties and informed him that he is not permitted on any district or school property,” Sardon said, adding that like McKeesport Area, the West Jefferson Hills district had obtained all of the necessary background clearances prior to hiring Fairman.

Until this week, a website for the Keystone Oaks School District listed Fairman as the head baseball coach, but his name has since been removed from the page.

Binder said police have notified all of Fairman’s known employers in which his job included contact with children about the ongoing criminal investigation.

Anyone with additional information is being asked to call the Allegheny County police tip line. Callers may remain anonymous, Binder said.

Originally published September 01, 2022.

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