Trial begins for former school officer accused of molesting 4 boys

PITTSBURGH — A former school police officer is on trial, facing charges he molested several boys at one of the schools he worked at.

Opening statements took place Tuesday in the case that dates back 14 years. Robert Lellock, 44, is on trial, accused of touching young boys in the janitor’s closet at Arthur J. Rooney Middle School in 1998 and 1999.

The prosecution opened the trial by telling jurors that Lellock used his badge and uniform to intimidate, threaten, blackmail and victimize the four boys involved. The prosecution said Lellock used a janitor’s closet to commit the crimes.

Channel 11’s Renee Kaminski reported that one of the alleged victims said he was 12 when Lellock took him out of class some 20 to 30 times, always to the janitors closer.

The now 28-year-old testified he was forced to "perform sex acts "and Lellock told him if he told anyone,  he would kill his family.

The defense countered and told jurors that he was never caught doing anything inappropriate and that the victims may be motivated by money -- claiming some of the alleged victims have already filed civil lawsuits related to the case.

Lellock and the district are being sued by some of the alleged victims, who claim district officials failed to properly respond if their teachers reported the incidents.

Lellock was suspended then resigned after the allegations surfaced last year.

The four alleged victims are now between the ages of 27 and 30 years old. They are each expected to testify during the course of the trial, which is expected to last all week.

WPXI