Former probation officer pleads guilty to 4 counts

A former Allegheny County probation officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to official oppression and intimidation after police said he had inappropriate relationships with women he supervised.

Matthew Mullen, 35, of Swisshelm Park will be sentenced July 10 by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Alexander Bicket on two counts of oppression, one count of witness intimidation and one count of harassment.

All of the counts to which Mr. Mullen pleaded guilty are misdemeanors.

According to assistant district attorney Jon Pittman, Mr. Mullen was supervising one woman in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program when she was pulled over by Pittsburgh police for driving without a license in August 2015. She informed Mr. Mullen of the stop and asked if she would get in trouble for it. Mr. Mullen told the woman she would not if she sent him pictures of her breasts, which she did. He then sent her a picture of his penis, Mr. Pittman said.

A second woman in the ARD program entered into a sexual relationship with Mr. Mullen, Mr. Pittman said.

When Mr. Mullen learned he was under investigation for inappropriate behavior, Mr. Mullen told the woman if she was contacted to not cooperate, the prosecutor said.

Counts of sexual assault and bribery were withdrawn