Canonsburg therapist accused of sending explicit photos to 12-year-old girl

CANONSBURG, Pa. — A local therapist who works with children is accused of sending explicit photos to a 12-year-old girl.

Neighbors who spoke with Channel 11′s Jillian Hartmann said this is sickening.

According to the criminal complaint, Cavanaugh sent three photos of a naked man and superimposed the victim’s dad’s face on the pictures.

“Anytime a child’s involved it’s alarming, regardless of occupation, any adult knows better and also it’s a crime,” said Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh.

11 News stopped by Cavanaugh’s house but she had no comment.

We learned she runs a local nonprofit called Autism Open through her home.

Investigators went to her home and got a warrant to seize Cavanaugh’s phone, where they found the photos that were unaltered.

“Honestly, crudely putting a face on the person over top of it and sending it to a child — it’s traced through an IP address to this individual’s phone,” Walsh explained.

Police say Cavanaugh knew and was in a former relationship with the victim’s father.

According to her online biography, she is a licensed therapist who works “predominately with children and adolescents.”

Walsh told us the child did the right thing by telling her dad.

“He came forward, her parent came to the police station. She did the right thing and reported to the right people and action was taken,” Walsh said.

We reached out separately to the nonprofit for comment but have not heard back.

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