HARRISBURG – Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced criminal charges against a Franklin County man who surreptitiously videotaped 206 patients at UPMC Carlisle, including nearly two dozen minors. The charges against Michael Bragg follow his arrest in April by the Office of Attorney General for producing and possessing child pornography and aggravated indecent assault against two children.
Of the victims, Shapiro said Bragg, 39 — in addition to videotaping hundreds of patients without consent — sexually assaulted a nude, intubated and unconscious woman in the hospital’s emergency room, and touched the breasts of another emergency room patient.
“People who were rushed to the emergency room or needed serious medical attention were violated by this man,” AG Shapiro said. “This sick sexual predator took advantage of patients when they were at their most vulnerable, in need of care. Thanks to the full cooperation of UPMC Carlisle, we identified all victims throughout this investigation.”
In April, Bragg was initially arrested by the Office of Attorney General following a search of his Buttercup Drive, Chambersburg, home where agents found secretly recorded videos of children using the bathroom there, plus other videos of child pornography. Bragg was also charged with aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault for the alleged sexual abuse of two minors.
As the investigation continued, Shapiro said agents also investigated the circumstances of videos of hospital patients in various stages of undress that were discovered on Bragg’s laptop computer, which led to today’s arrest.
“This was a complex, technical investigation which led to these charges being filed. But in the end, it was a simple case of standing up for victims, “AG Shapiro said.
The new charges against Bragg include:
- 1 count – aggravated indecent assault related to the vaginal penetration of a hospital patient,
- 1 count – indecent assault related to the fondling of a patient’s breast without consent,
- 19 counts – sexual abuse of children, manufacturing of child pornography
- 171 counts – invasion of privacy
- 201 counts – interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic or oral communication, and
- 1 count – criminal use of a communication facility.
Bragg will be arraigned tomorrow before Magisterial District Judge Susan Day in Mount Holly Springs. Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones, Deputy Attorney General David Drumheller, and Special Agent Brittany Lauck are prosecuting this case. Homeland Security Investigations assisted in the investigation. All charges discussed are accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If you were a patient at UPMC Carlisle’s emergency room between January 2016 and April 19, 2019 — and believe you were treated by Michael Bragg — please call the Child Predator Hotline at 800-385-1044.
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