Ex-Cranberry EMS Director Pleads Guilty to Indecent Assault
Steve Frank Tedesco agrees to a plea bargain. Authorities dismiss a felony charge of raping an unconscious person.
- By Jessica Sinichak
- Email the author
- September 10, 2012
More than a year after he was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting an unconscious 19-year-old after providing three teens with alcohol, ex-Cranberry EMS director Steve Tedesco has pleaded guilty to indecent assault of an unconscious person.
As part of Friday’s plea agreement, authorities dismissed charges of rape of an unconscious victim and sexual assault. Both are felonies. Misdemeanor charges of furnishing alcohol for minors also were dismissed.
Tedesco, 31, of Cranberry, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 13 before Butler County Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCune. Under the terms of the pleas agreement, he also must be assessed by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board and register on the state Megan’s Law website as a sexual offender.
In March 2011, police charged Tedesco with raping and sexually assaulting the then-19-year-old from Evans City after the teen fell asleep at an Evans City house party. Tedesco also was charged with providing alcohol to the teen and two other minors.
During a preliminary hearing before District Judge David Kovach in Cranberry in May, the teen testified they were celebrating that night after Tedesco announced that his wife was pregnant with a baby girl.
The teen also testified Tedesco performed oral sex on him while he was sleeping. The youth told Evans City police that when he awoke, he pushed Tedesco away and went to the other side of the room.
According to the criminal complaint, Tedesco later sent the 19-year-old several text messages apologizing for what happened and asking if they could talk.
In a phone call monitored by police, Tedesco again apologized to the teen. He also referred to the alcohol and told the teen not to tell anyone about it.
Tedesco was arrested March 9 after he went to the Cranberry Township police station to drop off an item. Officers there served him with a warrant for his arrest on behalf of Evans City police.
A trial before McCune was delayed numerous times.
Tedesco was a professional EMT and a volunteer with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company prior to his arrest. He became executive director of the ambulance service after a nationwide search several years ago.
Jeff Kelly replaced Tedesco as director of Cranberry EMS in June 2011.
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Update: Ex-Cranberry EMS Director to Stand Trial on Rape Charges
District Judge David Kovach213 Executive Dr, Cranberry Twp, PA/articles/update-ex-cranberry-ems-director-to-stand-trial-on-rape-charges1796686/locations/4649163 -
Cranberry Township Police
2525 Rochester Rd, Cranberry Twp, PA40.698886-80.109204Cranberry Township Police
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