Program director at Pittsburgh's Sarah Heinz House accused of sexual abuse against 6-year-old

A former program director for Pittsburgh’s youth-oriented Sarah Heinz House is accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy he had been babysitting, court records show.

Nicholas Gindele, 25, of Eighty-Four, is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, sexual assault and child endangerment in connection with the case.

“Upon learning (of the allegations against Gindele from authorities), our organization acted quickly to terminate this individual, who is now barred from all club programs and facilities,” Joseph Butcher, attorney for the organization, said in a statement.

A complaint filed against Gindele said police received a Childline referral about the alleged abuse on May 26.

Investigators said Gindele had been hired as a babysitter through an online personal care website. The child identified “Nick” as his babysitter and said Gindele had touched him inappropriately several times, the complaint said.

Police filed charges Thursday, and Gindele was taken into custody Friday, court records show. During Gindele’s preliminary arraignment on Friday, Magisterial District Judge Michael Thatcher denied bail, indicating in court records that Gindele was a “safety risk to the community.”

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 15.