VERONA, Pa. — A part-time Verona police officer charged with corrupting a minor and possession of child pornography was fired Tuesday.
According to Allegheny County police, an investigation began when a 16-year-old boy from Whitehall left school in the middle of the day and got into a car on Jan. 16. The next morning, police tracked the teen to the home of Anthony Ogline, who has worked as a part-time police officer in Verona since 2015.
When officers got to Ogline’s home there was no answer, but a short time later Ogline arrived with the teen in his car.
Investigators said they believe Ogline gave the teen alcohol and marijuana in addition to exchanging pornographic images with him.
Jerry Kenna, the Verona Borough Manager, told Channel 11 their council voted unanimously to terminate Ogline on Jan. 28, effective immediately.
According to court documents, Ogline met the 16-year-old on the dating app Grindr and met him in person for the first time about three weeks ago. The teen told Ogline on the app that he was 17 years old, to which Ogline allegedly replied, “That’s OK. Consent is 16 years old.”
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But the age of consent in Pennsylvania is actually 18 if one person involved in the relationship is over 18 years old.
Police said he picked the teen up from school last week and took him back to his house to stay for a few days, and admits having sexual acts with the teen. Documents said the two smoked marijuana, watched movies, drank mojitos and took shots.
However, that wasn’t all.
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Police said the teen remembers going to bed wearing sleep pants before passing out, and when he woke up, he was wearing only his boxers.
Channel 11′s Aaron Martin talked to Ogline in an off-camera interview. He insisted the victim never told him he was under 18, adding: “I would never risk my career in law enforcement that I love for something like this. I’m sorry to my friends, family, and co-workers that have to endure this with me.”
Ogline is charged with unlawful contact with a minor, possession of child pornography, criminal use of communications facility, corruption of minors, tampering with evidence and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Ogline confirmed with Channel 11 he also worked as an officer with Indiana Township police and expects to resign. We reached out to the police chief and township manager, but did not hear back.
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