Former Counselor at Seton-lasalle High School Accused of Sexual Abuse

By Mike Jones
The Observer-Reporter
December 20, 2018

https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/former-counselor-at-seton-lasalle-high-school-accused-of-sexual/article_0b2056fb-72ee-58fa-83c0-bf30768080d7.html

A former counselor who worked at Seton-LaSalle High School has been accused of sexually abusing a student at the South Hills school in the mid-1980s, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh said Wednesday.

The diocese said it recently received an allegation of abuse against Christian Brother David Trichtinger and sent letters to alumni who attended the Catholic school in Mt. Lebanon while Trichtinger was there from 1985 to 1987.

Similar letters were also sent alumni at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where Trichtinger was academic assistant principal from 1991 to 1995. Trichtinger has not served in the Diocese of Pittsburgh since 1995, officials said.

Diocesan officials said they contacted the Allegheny County district attorney’s office upon learning of the allegations. They also informed the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the District of Eastern North America, where Trichtinger serves.

The diocese did not release details on the abuse or when officials learned of the allegations. No charges had been filed against Trichtinger as of Wednesday afternoon.

“The Diocese of Pittsburgh continues to respond to those who have been hurt by representatives of the Church,” Bishop Zubik said in a written statement. “The healing of survivors is paramount to us.”

Students from across the South Hills and surrounding areas attend Seton-LaSalle.

Zubik urged any victims abused by anyone in Diocese of Pittsburgh to contact the diocesan assistance coordinator at 888-808-1235 or the Pennsylvania abuse hotline at 800-932-0313.

In August, a statewide grand jury identified 301 predator priests in Pennsylvania’s six dioceses, including 99 priests from the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Trichtinger was not named in that report.