Ex-Security Guard Charged in Sexual Assault

Police allege city woman assaulted MAHS student, now 17

By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
January 08, 2024
Posted in: Crime and Police News

(This is a developing story and will be updated if necessary.)

A former security guard at McKeesport Area High School was arrested Monday on charges that she had a sexual relationship with a now 17-year-old student.

Alexis Brown, 24, of McKeesport is charged by Allegheny County police with institutional sexual assault, corrupting the morals of minors and unlawful contact with a minor. She was being held in the Allegheny County Jail Monday night awaiting arraignment.

In affidavits filed in Allegheny County Night Court, police said the relationship was reported in early December. Police accused Brown of striking up a relationship with the student over Facebook Messenger that they described as “casual” at first, but which investigators allege turned sexual in nature.

The complaint states that the student told police Brown made a bet with her friends over who could have sex with the student first.

Beginning in May 2023, police allege, the teen-ager and Brown met at her apartment on Coursin Street in the city for the first of what detectives said were at least 15 encounters.

WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh first reported in December that a security guard was under investigation for sexual misconduct with a minor and further alleged that the guard in question had become pregnant as a result of their encounters.

School Superintendent Tia Wanzo said Monday night the district is working with authorities on the investigation.

“In light of the recent arrest of a former contracted employee on charges related to misconduct, the McKeesport Area School District emphasizes its commitment to the safety and well-being of our students,” she said. “As we navigate through this situation, the district will continue to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies.”

Brown was a contracted employee for an outside security agency, Homeland Intelligence & Protective Services of McDonald, the district told WPXI-TV. Brown was reportedly terminated after the activities were reported to the state’s child-abuse hotline.

In March 2023, the school board by 6-2 vote awarded a three-year contract to Homeland Intelligence to provide 10 security guards to the district at a cost of $356,440 for the 2023-24 school year and $370,120 for 2024-25.

In its proposal, the company cited its previous experience providing security for Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Bentworth Area School District and Wilkinsburg Athletic Association.

Wanzo declined to say whether Homeland Intelligence was still providing security guards for the district.

It was not immediately clear how long Brown had worked for Homeland Intelligence. Court records indicate that she was cited for disorderly conduct in 2018 in Wilkinsburg, 2019 in Monroeville and 2020 in Pittsburgh.

Messages left Monday night for Homeland Intelligence were not immediately returned.

During the search of Brown’s apartment on Dec. 13, county police allege, detectives discovered a 9-mm pistol that had been reported stolen from Pittsburgh in November.

County police additionally have charged Brown with receiving stolen property in connection with the recovered handgun.

Originally published January 08, 2024.

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