PITTSBURGH — The former program director of Pittsburgh’s Sarah Heinz House is facing felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a child he was babysitting at a Pittsburgh area home.
Police arrested and charged 25-year-old Nicholas Gindele with child endangerment, deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and sexual assault.
Pittsburgh parents could not contain their emotions when they found out about the case.
“It’s a damn shame!” said Shirley Pitman.
“Oh my God! I have a 6-year-old daughter,” said Diseree Ellis.
According to the criminal complaint, police received a Childline tip about the incident back in May.
During an interview at Children’s Hospital in June, the little boy told investigators he was “abused by Nick,” his babysitter.
The child’s mother had hired Gindele through a personal care website.
The child told investigators that Gindele licked and touched him inappropriately.
“Oh my God! You can’t trust no one nowadays … especially not in Pittsburgh. There’s a lot of kids in this area,” said Ellis.
Gindele was hired by the Sarah Heinz House as program director back in 2021.
The organization offers more than 100 after-school and summer programs for kids.
In a public Facebook video posted in March from the Heinz House Camp official page, Gindele announced that he had been named the boys’ resident camp director.
He expressed his excitement and said he had worked at more than two dozen other camps over the years.
Channel 11 went to the Sarah Heinz House for answers about Gindele and the charges filed against him.
A worker there declined to comment.
Sarah Heinz House’s attorney, Joseph F. Butcher, eventually released the following statement:
“The safety and protection of the young people we serve are always our absolute highest priorities, and we take any situation that might impact their well-being very seriously. Sarah Heinz House is aware of the arrest of a former staff member charged with allegations of inappropriate behavior toward a minor. Upon learning this information from authorities, our organization acted quickly to terminate this individual, who is now barred from all Club programs and facilities. We will continue to offer our full cooperation to authorities as needed.
“While the circumstances leading to this arrest did not occur on Club premises or involve Club members, we are deeply saddened by this very serious matter as crimes of abuse run counter to everything our organization stands for — no harm should come to any child under any circumstance.
“Sarah Heinz House is committed to the highest standards of ethical behavior and integrity and does not tolerate inappropriate or illegal behavior on the part of any Club staff, volunteer, or youth member. All employees and volunteers must undergo a comprehensive criminal background check prior to hire and annually, and all supervisory policies are designed to ensure the maximum safety and protection of Club members and staff.
“As this is an active police investigation, we are unable to offer further comment. Sarah Heinz House’s commitment to our Club youth, their families, and our community is unwavering.”
Gindele is now set to go before a judge for his preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
He remains locked up at the Allegheny County Jail after his bond was denied.
A judge deemed him to be a “safety risk to the community.”
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