Canonsburg man to stand trial on stalking charges
A Canonsburg man accused of stalking teenage girls with a drone will stand trial on a dozen misdemeanor charges.
Michael Francis Brackman, 44, appeared before District Judge James Saieva Tuesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing on charges of stalking and possession of an instrument of crime.
According to online court records, Saieva held all the charges for Washington County Court of Common Pleas.
Court records list Brackman’s attorney as Pittsburgh-based lawyer Bruce Carsia. Carsia did not respond to a request for comment prior to Wednesday’s deadline.
Canonsburg police accuse Brackman in court documents of using a drone to follow multiple teenagers, sometimes using the device to take pictures.
Brackman, who lives in the 500 block of Franklin Avenue, allegedly began the behavior in April 2023. According to the criminal complaint, Brackman frequently used his drone to follow a 13-year-old female neighbor.
Charging documents state that the 13-year-old and her mother told police that Brackman’s drone began following her almost daily. The girl estimated it had followed her at least 80 to 90 times. The family ended up moving as a result.
According to the complaint, police learned of five additional potential juvenile victims while investigating Brackman. In one instance, Brackman is accused of using his drone to take a picture of a group of children playing with chalk in an alleyway. Brackman allegedly hung copies of the picture around the neighborhood, court documents state.
Police said that the parents of one child discovered a handwritten note in front of their home that contained a sexually explicit message and Brackman’s phone number.
Brackman also faces summary charges of harassment and unlawful use of a manned aircraft. He is currently incarcerated in the Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.
Formal arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 29.