PITTSBURGH — A 44-year-old emergency medical technician for NorthWest EMS is accused of exchanging inappropriate sexual pictures and text messages with a 16-year-old girl he met while transporting her to a hospital.
Thomas Scott George, of Avalon, was arraigned Wednesday in Night Court on charges of dissemination of explicit materials to minors, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. He is free on $50,000 unsecured bail to await a preliminary hearing scheduled Oct. 8.
George met the girl on Aug. 4 while taking her to Sewickley Valley Hospital and gave her his phone number when she said she was interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, according to the criminal complaint filed by Allegheny County Police.
The complaint states that the teen texted George a few days after getting out of the hospital and that he eventually asked her to send a picture of herself to him. The two exchanged nude photos and sexual text messages, the complaint states.
When George read the search warrant served by detectives as they seized his cell phone, he said, according to the complaint: “There were pictures sent but I deleted them….Things went too far, further than they should have. I realized it was wrong and I stopped communicating with her.”
He also expressed concern to detectives about losing his job over the allegations.
Officials from NorthWest EMS could not be reached for comment.
