Former Pittsburgh School Board President Charged with Raping 7-Year-Old

WTAE ^ | 11/27/01

[mountaineer]

A former Pittsburgh Board of Public Education president has been charged with rape. Police say Ron Suber, 49, assaulted a 7-year-old girl on Nov. 3. He was arraigned Monday on charges including rape, indecent assualt and indecent exposure.

Suber lives in the Manchester section of the city's North Side. He served four terms on the city's school board, and was the board president for four years.

Suber is free on bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6.

[Dakmar]

I think putting him in a prison cell with some bikers for the rest of his life would be a better punishment.

[Sabertooth]

City detectives obtained a warrant for Suber's arrest after the girl was interviewed by specialists at the Pittsburgh Child Advocacy Center at the Children's Hospital in Oakland, an affidavit of probable cause shows.

If the guy is guilty, he outta hang.

However, I read the article and the information here is sparse. An interview was conducted, was there a medical examination? Is there physical evidence of molestation, or just the little girl's word?

On most cirmes, I feel confident that when law enforcement and district attorneys bring a charge, they probably have the right man. But the hysteria of many social workers and child pschologists to make cases like this has led to many innocent people being charged on very flimsy evidence, with not a few convictions. I've seen videotapes of such interviews, and they can be very leading and suggestive, to the point of using dirty words, almost role-playing a molestation, and then asking the child if this is what "X" did to them. Kids will often tell adults what they think is expected of them, and repeated sessions like this (often with parents excluded) can lead to a false "suggested memory." Think about all of the bogus "recovered memory" cases you've seen over the years.

There has been a heinous degree of irresponsibility on the part of child advocates in this area, to the point where I think that child-abuse charges could often be brought against them.

I'd like to know more about the track record of the Pittsburgh D.A. in cases like this.

I'd also like to know more about the histery of this guy that's been charged.

Like I said, if he's guilty, he oughtta hang.

[GussiedUp]

This was reported on Fox 53 last night and appears on WTAE's web site, but not on the newspaper web sites nor on other TV sites. Could it be they do not find it newsworthy?

He is black - the major media does not report black crime now as a rule. Had he been white they would have.

[mommadooo3]

WHAT A MAGGOT!!!!!!!..............NOPE....CAN'T be.....maggots are white.

[zog]

--yep! that's why we have innocent until proven guilty, or that's the theory. I am of mixed feelings on this, if all they got is a kids testimony, after she weas grilled and maybe coached for a long time, but no evidence of rape, then what does that say? About zilch, could be someone has a vendetta against the guy-who knows? No way to tell from the article yet. Find out first, I don't trust child protective services to not be liars anymore, then been busted too many times creating false reality. This is SOP In divorce cases now, whomever files first makes a charge against the other spouse almost immediately, that and claims of 'threats", which usually results in loss of firearms forever, among other things.

[philosofy123]

Remember the liberals defence of Clinton being "The Alfa Dog" ! This guy can use the same defence! Since he is the top man in school board, he is entitle to sleep with any kid

[FryingPan101]

Dear God, what is happening? One week ago, a little five year old girl, dressed up in her Sunday best red dress, was abducted from a local Walmart minutes after her arrival with her family here in El Paso. With frantic searches and police bulletins and Walmart closing it's doors, this precious child was still found nude, raped, disfigured, and dead only hours later. What kind of animals rape? What kind of monsters rape babies?

[prisoner6]

If I'm not mistaken this isn't the first time he's been introuble. I seem to recall running a story about him years ago. He was scum then, he's scum now. Thing is, very few people were upset before, but this time I think he's in for a bit more than a hand slap.

prisoner6

[Republic]

I wish we had the death penalty for rape.

So do I. Including those who serially rape, ie all of the court cases involving little boy scouts.

[Ciexyz]

I can't wait to get my hands on today's Trib. They usually feature news about major crimes (by both blacks and whites) on the front page. In contrast, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a left-leaning mag, buries news of black crime on its inside pages.

[Dane]

I can't wait to get my hands on today's Trib. They usually feature news about major crimes (by both blacks and whites) on the front page. In contrast, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a left-leaning mag, buries news of black crime on its inside pages.

It is quite a contrast. The only thing the Post-Gazette is good for is liner for a bird cage.

[VRWC_minion]

Ex-school board head faces assault charges

By Michael Hasch
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, November 27, 2001

The former president of the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education was arrested Monday on charges of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl.

Ronald Suber, 49, who lives in the Manchester neighborhood of the North Side, was charged with single counts of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors and two counts of indecent assault.

Suber, who lost his District 8 school board seat in November 1999, was arraigned before City Magistrate Louis Coles and released after posting 10 percent of $3,000 bond to await a Child's Court hearing scheduled for Dec. 6, court papers show.

Suber, who turned himself in to police yesterday, also was ordered to attend outpatient psychiatric evaluation before the hearing.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review does not identify people who have said they were sexually assaulted.

Pittsburgh police were called on Nov. 4 after the child told her mother she had been assaulted by Suber.

City detectives obtained a warrant for Suber's arrest after the girl was interviewed by specialists at the Pittsburgh Child Advocacy Center at the Children's Hospital in Oakland, an affidavit of probable cause shows.

The girl said she was assaulted at Suber's home on Juniata Street.

Suber, who works as operations manager for Healthy Start Inc., said he had no comment last night.

Suber, a Democrat, was elected to the city school board in 1985 to represent District 8, which includes part of the North Side, Beltzhoover and Hill District.

Suber, who has two adult sons, served four terms on the school board, including four years as president.

In May 1999, Suber appeared to have narrowly lost both the Democratic and Republican nominations to Mark Brentley Sr. of Perry Central.

Brentley defeated Suber on the Democratic ballot by 39 votes and by seven votes on the GOP ballot.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge James McLean nullified the results after Suber claimed election fraud. McLean ordered a new election.

When the new election was held, Brentley defeated Suber by 144 votes.

Michael Hasch can be reached at mhasch@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7820.

[zeaal]

HE IS FREE ON BOND! FREE ON BOND? GRRRRRRRR! What was bond set at?

[GEC]

Very good questions. I have no answers.

[AshleyMontagu]

Hey, it's a cultural thang. In South Africa she'd be considered over the hill.

[Dane]

I use Netscape and I can't cut and paste Pittsburgh Tribune-Review articles.

Did you cut and paste?

[AmishDude]

District 8, which includes part of the North Side, Beltzhoover and Hill District.

I smell Gerrymandering. The North Side is generally middle class and suburban-like. As for the Hill District, on just about every TV report of violent crime it Pittsburgh, you will hear the phrase "a Hill District man". Whether it be the victim, perpetrator or a suspect, there's always "a Hill District man".

[VRWC_minion]

I use Netscape and I can't cut and paste Pittsburgh Tribune-Review articles. Did you cut and paste?

Yes, the explorer has a special add-on accessible at microsoft.com that can do a "view partial source" that allows you to shade an area, create a file with the html and then you can copy/paste that and have all the formating retained. You could probably do a "view source" for the entire page but its tough to pick out the parts you want.

[homeschool mama]

***Another reason to homeschool... That poor little girl. I wish we had the death penalty for rape. ***

BUMP

[bloodmeridian]

It's in the P-G and Trib.