Former Westmoreland County sheriff's deputy charged with asking teen girl for sex

A former Westmoreland County Sheriff's Department deputy was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of corruption of minors for allegedly exchanging text messages with a 15-year-old girl, seeking sex with her and her juvenile friend.

Bobby Neiderhiser, 38, who lists his current address as Mt. Pleasant Township, refused to comment to a reporter as he departed Harrison City District Judge Helen Kistler's office with his private attorney, Brian Aston of Greensburg, after being arraigned on the complaint filed by state police in Greensburg.

According to an affidavit filed by Trooper Christopher Cole, the girl's mother approached state police in August after discovering "sexually explicit” texts between her daughter and Neiderhiser on the girl's cellphone.

Cole alleges the texts disclosed that Neiderhiser offered to perform a sex act on the girl and her 16-year-old female friend "in exchange for alcohol.”

Cole alleges the text messages between Neiderhiser and the girl were sent after a teenager's birthday party both attended in June at a Penn Township residence. Neiderhiser formerly lived in Penn Township.

"(The girl) related she was upset by these texts and is afraid of Bobby,” Cole said in court documents.

During the text message exchanges, police say, Neiderhiser repeatedly asked the victim to promise to erase the texts.

Cole said Neiderhiser texted the girl, "You don't tell … I don't tell. That's the deal.”

The girl's family allegedly confronted Neiderhiser about the text messages and "Neiderhiser (told one family member) he was drunk when these messages happened,” Cole said in court documents.

State Attorney General Josh Shapiro's child predator unit assisted with the investigation.

Neiderhiser waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bond.

Sheriff Jon Held said Neiderhiser had been a deputy since 2005 and resigned Friday.

"If found guilty, the charge is certainly very disturbing,” Held said.

"As sworn law enforcement officers, we're here to serve and protect, not commit crimes and victimize people,” Held said.

Neiderhiser is charged with a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a potential 2-1/2- to 5-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000, if convicted.

Neiderhiser took a medical leave of absence from the department about one month ago, prior to resigning Friday, Held said.

Neiderhiser's arrest is the latest legal woe impacting the sheriff's office.

Held, 44, is awaiting trial on three charges of theft and one count of conflict of interest filed by the Attorney General's Office. Officials allege Held forced deputies to perform campaign chores while on duty.

He has denied the charges.

Patricia Fritz, the department's former chief deputy, was fired last month after a county investigation into alleged workplace violence.

Fritz, 63, of Mt. Pleasant was convicted in October of a summary harassment offense in connection with a physical altercation during a meeting with the president of the union that represents deputy sheriffs.

Fritz denies the claim and is appealing her conviction.

Sheriff's department Capt. Travis Day, 24, of Jeannette was placed on unpaid leave after State College police filed stalking and harassment charges against him.

The misdemeanor charges involve incidents that allegedly occurred over the summer as Day attended a 19-week training course for new deputy sheriffs.

Day is awaiting a preliminary hearing in State College after being accused of making unwanted advances toward a female deputy sheriff while attending the training academy at Penn State University, which caused her "emotional distress” and put her in fear of serious bodily injury, according to police.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ppeirce_trib.