HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A former member of an Allegheny County state legislator's staff allegedly had computer chats with a teenage boy about dressing in animal costumes and having sex, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said.
Alan David Berlin worked in the Senate about a decade, including the last several years with Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, who said Berlin "was immediately and indefinitely suspended" with no pay or benefits when she learned of the allegations.
"As a former ten-year veteran prosecutor who specialized in prosecuting child abuse and child sexual assault cases and successfully convicted numerous sex offenders, I was shocked and appalled," Orie said in a statement Friday evening, adding that Berlin has been fired. "I fully and staunchly support the actions of the Attorney General's Office in investigating and prosecuting all child abuse and sexual assault cases -- including the work of the AG's Child Predator Unit."
Berlin, 40, of Carlisle, allegedly used the chat name "alan_panda_bear" and talked about various sex acts with the teen, including the idea of traveling to Harrisburg and having sex in the boy's back yard while his parents slept, Corbett said.
"Berlin is also accused of attempting to arrange a meeting between the boy and another adult, and offered to get them a hotel room if Berlin could take photos of them having sex," according to the criminal complaint, Corbett said.
The boy's parents contacted authorities after finding sexually graphic messages on his computer, Corbett said.
Investigators from Corbett's office found a wolf and cat-type costume in Berlin's home, a spokesman said.
Berlin was arraigned before District Judge George Zozos and taken to the Dauphin County Jail on $250,000 bail.
It wasn't clear if Berlin had a lawyer. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 5.
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