Pittsburgh – The former West Homestead police chief told federal investigators he was seduced by a 14-year-old girl who said she had sex with him in his unmarked police car and at his home, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.

David Ausburn, 35, of Munhall, exchanged numerous e-mails with the girl in which they used coded language to discuss their relationship, federal authorities allege in the complaint unsealed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan.

He later told agents from the Crimes Against Children Task Force that the girl dressed provocatively and “came on” to him.

The age of consent in Pennsylvania is 16.

The investigation started Jan. 11 when a confidential source told U.S. Postal Inspector Thomas Clinton about e-mails in Ausburn’s old desk, which Ausburn used before he was promoted from detective to chief.

The girl, who is now at least 16, told investigators during an interview Feb. 2 that she engaged in sexual activities with Ausburn. She also told investigators the two had sex in Ausburn’s unmarked police car and at his home, an affidavit states.

The day after interviewing the girl, federal authorities raided police headquarters and confronted Ausburn with the girl’s allegations. At first, Ausburn denied any involvement with her, but eventually admitted befriending the teen, whom he claimed “came on” to him by kissing him on the cheek and dressing provocatively, according to the complaint.

Ausburn ended the interview by saying he wanted to go home to think about things and to hug his son.

That night he tried to commit suicide in his garage by carbon monoxide poisoning and was taken to Presbyterian University Hospital.

In a suicide note addressed to Clinton and FBI agent Bradley Orsini, Ausburn admitted engaging in a sex act with the girl. In a Feb. 7 interview at Western Psychiatric Hospital in Oakland, he told Orsini he started a sexual relationship with the girl in 2003, the complaint states.

The documents do not describe how Ausburn and the girl met.

Ausburn, who had been with the department for about 10 years and made about $46,000 as chief, resigned Feb. 8. He was joined by his wife at a court hearing last week.

Ausburn’s lawyer, James Ecker, declined comment.

Officials with the U.S. Postal Service, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined comment.

The girl told investigators she last exchanged e-mails with Ausburn on Feb. 1, and that they still maintained their relationship. The two frequently sent e-mails to each other and spoke often by cell phone, she said. She also told the investigators she sent letters and notes to Ausburn at police headquarters.

She sometimes called him “Dutch,” his nickname. His e-mail address was [email protected].

Ausburn, who is being held in federal custody at an undisclosed location, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of using the Internet to entice a minor into a sexual relationship.

Ausburn’s arrest had the regulars talking at Chiodo’s Tavern, according to the manager of the bar on 8th Avenue in neighboring Homestead.

Corey McGough, 26, said he always thought Ausburn was a decent guy, the type who would give a drunk person a ride home. That Ausburn is accused of using a borough vehicle to have sex with a teen just makes the allegations that much worse, McGough said.

“It happens all the time, tax money getting wasted,” McGough said. “But as citizens, what can you do? All you can do is sit down here and talk about it.”

West Homestead Solicitor Stanley Lederman said the allegations surprised borough officials, but that he’s not worried about a lawsuit against the borough.

“Anything he is alleged to have done would have been done as an individual doing individual things that were illegal and without the consent of the borough,” Lederman said