'U' suspends alleged pedophile

By David Enders

Daily Staff Reporter

A pre-trial hearing has been set in the case of the University employee accused of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old boy.

Brian Allen Reed, 34, will appear for a pre-trial hearing Nov. 14 in Washtenaw County Circuit Court. He appeared Friday for a preliminary hearing.

According to the Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety, officers found Reed and the 14-year-old boy in Reed's pickup in a Pittsfield Township park the night of Sept. 27. Both were unclothed when officers arrived.

Reed has worked in the Office of the Dean of Students as coordinator of Student Organization Accounts Services since June 8, 1998.

Scott Weinberg, Reed's lawyer, said the University suspended his client without pay. Reed is free on a $25,000 bond that stipulates he may not have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said the University's policy of not discussing personnel prevents her from disclosing Reed's status, but she did comment on the terms of his release.

"The University is aware of the terms of his release on bond and is complying," Peterson said.

Weinberg has officially been charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sexual misconduct, which involves penetration but with less coercion than first-degree criminal sexual misconduct.Weinberg said Reed does not deny having sexual relations with the boy, but said the boy deceived his client. "He readily admitted it, because the young man stated he was of age," Weinberg said.

Under Michigan law, the minimum age for consensual sex is 16.

Weinberg also said it was the boy who propositioned Reed. "The young man asked my client to take him to the park."

According to the Pittsfield Township DPS, Reed picked the boy up at the Meijer store on Carpenter Road the same night they were found together.

The boy said Reed first approached him in the video rental section before the boy went outside the store, where Reed drove by three times before the boy accepted a ride.