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Irwin church volunteer charged with child porn; Wife faces child endangerment charges

IRWIN, Pa. — A volunteer youth pastor in Irwin has resigned and been jailed after the District Attorney's Office charged him with possessing images and videos of child pornography, some featuring adults performing sex acts with infants.
 
Forty-five-year-old Andrew Patterson, of Monroeville, was jailed after his arraignment Thursday. He faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 28.
 
The Allegheny County District Attorney's office says child pornography being shared on the Internet was traced to Patterson's computer address.
 
Police said Patterson had thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of children.  Prosecutors said it may be the most they've seen in a single case.
 
Prosecutors were asking anyone with concerns about Patterson's behavior to contact their office since he had contact with children 12 and older at the nondenominational church.
 
A spokesman from the District Attorney's Office said at this point, there's no indication any children were involved in possible misconduct with Patterson.
 
Sylvia Tryon, the pastor at Living Waters Family Worship Center, says Patterson resigned his volunteer position Thursday morning.
 
Pastors Sylvia and Roy Tryon told Channel 11 they were devastated when they learned about the alleged activity.
 
"We had a glowing resume on him," they said.
 
The Tryons told Channel 11's Pamela Osborne Patterson and his family joined the church a few months ago.
 
"Nothing that went on demonstrated the depth of what this is all about," said Roy Tryon. 
 
The Tryons said they learned about the allegations from a voice mail.
 
"He said he was in despair.  He had done something real bad and had to resign," said Roy Tryon.

Police said during the investigation, they found Patterson's home in deplorable condition.  Animal litter, dog food and garbage were strewn about the home, they said.  Code enforcement officers have determined the house is not safe.

On Friday, only Channel 11 was there as Peterson's wife, Tina Patterson, was arraigned on child endangerment charges related to the alleged condition of their home.

Holden asked Tina Patterson if she believed the allegations against her husband.

"No comment," she said.

WPXI

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