A Pennsylvania school district is defending the hiring of a custodian who now faces multiple charges of child pornography possession. The Baldwin-Whitehall School District reportedly hired 55-year-old Michael Siar in 2024 for a part-time evening position at Baldwin High School. He transitioned into a full-time position shortly thereafter. Police arrested Siar on September 8, 2025, on 22 counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
Baldwin-Whitehall Superintendent Randal A. Lutz stated that the district screened Siar for employment in the same manner as it vets all job applicants, according to a news release from the school district.
“A question has surfaced as to whether Mr. Siar should have been employed since he had magistrate charges filed against him in 2023,” Lutz explained in the statement. “Those charges were at the summary level and would not have shown up on any type of required clearance for employment.”
Lutz added that the district placed Siar on leave in April when the investigation began.
Per a news release from the Whitehall Borough Police Department, it was notified on April 23, 2025, by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that the agency had received “13 cyber tips identifying Michael Siar as a person who may possess child sexual abuse material.”
Police noted that investigators found no evidence on Siar’s electronic devices that any of the victims were Baldwin-Whitehall School District students.
“I heard Detective Newbold say today that during the extensive investigation over the past 4 months, there has been no connection made to BWSD other than his employment. Should that change, we will be notified immediately,” Lutz noted in his statement. “Thank you for your patience as we have been working through this issue and taking actions to keep our students and staff safe.”
Following a months-long investigation led by the US Secret Service and Whitehall police investigators, police arrested Siar, who faces 22 counts of possession of child pornography. Magisterial District Judge David J. Barton arraigned Siar and ultimately released him on nonmonetary bail. Authorities did not release an image of Siar, which has upset many people in the community.
“I think it is appropriate in these situations to share photos of the individual and share information related to what building they worked at. There is no reason to withhold information like that in these situations,” a concerned person commented on the police department’s Facebook page. “The people want transparency.”
“I want to see a photo. I worry about my granddaughter and other children. The disgusting POS should not of been left out,” a grandmother wrote. “Whitehall Borough Police Department please share a photo. He is not underage. The community needs to be aware!”
“If this accusation doesn’t require cash bail to keep him away from kids what does?” someone else shared. “My God. Make it make sense.”
It is unclear when Siar will appear in court next.
