A PORN-ADDICTED judge stands accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy at his Pennsylvania home and may have other victims, authorities have said.
Michael Schechterly, 58, a district judge in Perry County, was charged on Monday over an incident alleged to have taken place in 2012.
Authorities began investigating Schechterly after locals raised concerns over his interactions with children via a program, named the Royal Rangers, run by his local church.
Schechterly, who was elected as a judge in 2011, was known in the group as Commander Mike.
Witnesses told police that Schechterly would often take young children from the community to his home and court, the New York Post reported.
When interviewed by police, Schechterly admitted to touching the 12-year-old boy’s crotch, though initially claimed the boy had grabbed his hand and placed it there, according to reports.
A witness has also described seeing the judge, on a separate occasion, touch his genitals in the presence of the same child.
The boy, described as having special needs, is now 20, but would have been 12 at the time of the assault, Law & Crime reported.
Police also reportedly identified security footage in which Schechterly is seen bringing children not related to him to his district court office outside of working hours and without other adults.
When interviewed, Schechterly also reportedly described having what he called a “porn addiction”.
He said he would often masturbate a number of times in a day, and confessed to doing so at his office.
An affidavit of probable cause stated that Schechterly was questioned about stains on surfaces in the office, and that he “indicated those stains would likely be his semen”.
Schechterly was charged with unlawful contact with children, corruption of minors, and indecent assault.
In a statement, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said: “Serious allegations show this judge violated the trust that the citizens of Perry County placed in him by sexually abusing a little boy.
“We will hold the powerful and well-connected accountable to law just like everyone else.
“My office will investigate and prosecute anyone who abuses their authority to harm Pennsylvanians, no matter what position of power they may hold.”