A Pittsburgh paramedic is facing child endangerment charges in Columbiana County, Ohio, after authorities say he injected his teenage son with anabolic steroids. The city emergency medical worker has been placed on leave from Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services while the Ohio case moves forward. Family members say the teen is a pediatric cancer survivor, which has only amplified their concern.
According to WPXI, the paramedic has been identified as Michael Bess. Investigators in Columbiana County allege he gave his son anabolic steroid injections at two different gyms. Records reviewed by the station show the Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services substantiated one allegation of physical abuse, and the teen’s medical records list diagnoses including “poisoning by anabolic steroid” and “medical neglect of child by caregiver.”
Legal implications
Ohio’s child endangerment statute spells out how cases like this can be charged and punished. Under Ohio Revised Code §2919.22, endangering children can be treated as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the level of harm alleged and any prior history, with penalties that range from fines and community sanctions to potential prison time.
Anabolic steroids are also regulated under federal law as controlled substances. Under the schedules listed in 21 CFR §1308.13, unauthorized possession or distribution of these drugs can carry criminal penalties separate from any child endangerment charges.
What’s next
Prosecutors and the sheriff’s office in Columbiana County are leading the investigation and will decide whether to file any additional counts beyond child endangerment. Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services has said the employee’s status will be handled under department policy while the Ohio case proceeds. The county has not yet posted a public court calendar entry for the matter.
Health concerns
Family members and the teen’s medical providers told reporters they are deeply concerned about potential health fallout, given the boy’s history as a pediatric cancer survivor. Survivors of childhood cancer often need carefully tailored long‑term follow-up and can face late effects from earlier treatment, making unsupervised drug exposure especially worrisome.
The National Cancer Institute notes that childhood cancer survivors frequently require ongoing monitoring and individualized care plans to manage these risks. NCI guidance on late effects underscores the importance of close medical oversight for this group.
