WTAE photographer Lenni Todd has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly groping a 21-year-old woman after he tricked her into filming a bogus interview.

According to the Observer-Reporter, Todd decided to wave a preliminary hearing on Monday in an effort to avoid anticipated media coverage, moving the case closer to a trial.

In June, Todd, 58, reportedly conned his way into the woman’s home by telling her that he was shooting video for Animal Planet.  According to court documents, Todd showed up to her house in a vehicle emblazoned with the WTAE logo and used equipment that bore the station’s name. While setting up for the bogus interview, Todd allegedly touched the woman’s breasts and groped her buttocks.

While he wasn’t on duty at the time, Todd told police that he was running late for his 10:30 a.m. shift at WTAE. Read more

Police in South Strabane, PA, filed sexual assault charges yesterday against a WTAE news photographer.

Lenni Todd, 58, is accused of inappropriately touching a woman while pretending to be shooting a segment. South Strabane police said that Todd was in a WTAE vehicle and was using equipment with the station logo on it. WTAE, the Pittsburgh-area ABC affiliate, said that Todd was not on duty at the time of the incident.

The station said in a statement that they intend to cooperate fully with the investigation. Todd, who faces misdemeanor charges, apologized to the victim and her family, saying he used poor judgment.