BEAVER — Felony charges have been filed against the assistant chief of the Aliquippa Police Department after investigators learned he sent a text message containing an inappropriate image to a teenager.
Just two days after the Aliquippa Council voted to place Chief Donald Couch on administrative leave for unspecified reasons, charges were filed against Assistant Chief Joseph Perciavalle.
According to a statement released by Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier, Perciavalle was charged Friday morning with felony counts of distribution of sexually explicit material to a minor and unlawful contact with a minor, as well as a misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors. He was arraigned at 10:15 a.m. Friday before District Judge Janet Swihart, according to court records.
Police said they became aware of the message during a separate investigation in which several cell phones, including that of the minor, were searched. While reviewing the minor’s phone, police said one message included sexually explicit material.
The image was sent to the minor by a contact saved in the cell phone as “Uncle Perc,” and investigators recognized the number as belonging to Perciavalle. The image was sent in a message that included people besides the juvenile.
“Upon discovery of the image, detectives are required to promptly report the activity through Child Line,” a statewide system for reporting child abuse, according to Lozier's statement.
Officials did not release the “nature of the texted image” or the identity of the juvenile.
Cell phones were collected as evidence and forensically analyzed as a result of a homicide investigation into the May 13 death of 33-year-old Rachael DelTondo, including that of a 17-year-old girl, according to search warrants filed in the case.
The girl, who is the daughter of Aliquippa police Sgt. Kenneth Watkins, is believed to have been with DelTondo shortly before she was shot and killed, according to the search warrants.
Watkins was placed on leave in May as a result of a personal connection to the DelTondo investigation. At the time, Couch told The Times that Watkins, his wife and teenage daughter were friends with DelTondo and her family.
A series of search warrants for cell phone and social media records filed in the case mention Watkins’ wife and daughter.
The statement released by Lozier makes no connection between the charge filed against Perciavalle and the DelTondo investigation.
Perciavalle was hired as assistant chief in April 2014. It is unclear if he was formally tasked by Aliquippa officials to lead the police department after Couch was placed on paid leave Wednesday night.
Calls to the Aliquippa City Building were not returned to The Times on Thursday afternoon requesting details about department logistics amid Couch’s temporary departure.
Councilwoman Vickie Fratangeli said she could not discuss “why we did what we did” in terms of voting to place Couch on leave. As far as the department goes, she said it will be up to Walker and Councilman Arthur Piroli Jr., who oversees public safety, to name an interim chief.
City solicitor Myron Sainovich said on Wednesday that Couch was placed on paid administrative leave due to “personnel issues.” He said he did not believe the leave was connected to the DelTondo investigation.
It is unclear if the leave is related to a state police or grand jury investigation into the city.