Former police officer pleads guilty in child-porn case

BEAVER, Pa. (AP) -- A former part-time police officer has pleaded guilty to fondling a 12-year-old girl he had met on the Internet and to possessing child pornography.
Michael Stramella, 30, of Ellwood City, had been a part-time officer with the New Brighton Area police in Beaver County.
Stramella pleaded guilty Friday to indecent assault and possession of child pornography. Other charges, including luring a child into a motor vehicle, corruption of minors and criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, were dropped in exchange for the guilty pleas.
Stramella was arrested in January after state police said they instructed the girl to call him and arrange a meeting. During the call, Stramella suggested the girl perform a sexual act on him, police said.
Police said the girl first met Stramella on an Internet chat service in July 2001 and the officer gave her his cell phone number last fall, police said.
The girl told police the officer started to make sexual comments to her and they agreed to meet in December 2001 in a school parking lot, police said.
During the investigation, police found child pornography on Stramella's computer.
Stramella will be sentenced in about three months after state officials determine whether he should be classified as a violent sexual predator under the state's Megan's Law.