A former instructor at School of Rock Castle Shannon — and onetime rhythm guitarist for the heavy metal band Black Label Society — pleaded guilty Tuesday to sending sexually explicit messages to a 14-year-old female music school student.
Nicholas Catanese, 46, of Findlay pleaded guilty to unlawful contact, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel.
She ordered him to serve five years of probation. register for 25 years as a Megan's Law offender, avoid contact with minors and have no access to internet-capable computers.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Castle Shannon police were alerted to the allegations by the music school’s owner, David Blackrick, on April 29. Mr. Blackrick said that the student told him about the messages.
Catanese had already been terminated, the affidavit said, based on a previously reported incident with another female student.
In the incident to which Catanese pleaded guilty, the victim told police that Catanese was her instructor at the school and that he sent her sexually explicit messages on Instagram, including photos of his penis. He also requested nude images of the girl and described various sex acts.
In an interview with investigators, the complaint said, Catanese admitted to being the owner of the username dreviltwin13 on Instagram and exchanging messages with the student.
According to guitarworld.com, Catanese, who was also known as "The Evil Twin," in the band, left Black Label Society in December 2013. He had played with the group for 17 years.
Paula Reed Ward: pward@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2620 or on Twitter @PaulaReedWard.
First Published: January 16, 2018, 11:05 p.m.
