Former Cranberry Supervisor Registers as Sex Offender

A former Cranberry Township supervisor last week registered as a sexual offender on the state Megan’s Law website after he was convicted of possessing child pornography.

William Ambrass, 57, of McDonald Drive, was arrested in October by Allegheny County police, who charged him with one count of possession of child pornography.  According to Allegheny County court records, the incident took place in March 2008.

Ambrass was a three-term Cranberry supervisor who served from 1988 to 2005 and once held the position of chairman of the board. He pleaded guilty before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Anthony Mariani on May 26 and was sentenced to five years probabtion. He registered June 1 on the Megan’s Law website as a 10-year offender.

A former US Airways employee, Ambrass sought a return to township government in 2009, when he ran for township supervisor but was defeated.

Jeff Schueler said a resident on Tuesday contacted the township police department to express concern about living in the same neighborhood with Ambrass.

“Most of the time when there’s new information we do get phone calls,” he said.

Schueler said police are not permitted to comment on the matter beyond what appears on the Megan’s Law website, which is published by the Pennsylvania State Police. He added that officers are aware of all registered sex offenders who are working or living in the township.