An Upper St. Clair High School freshman charged with multiple rapes has been released from Shuman Juvenile Detention Center under the strictest form of house arrest.

Allegheny County Judge John T. McVay Jr. signed an order for the boy's release two weeks ago, but the news was slow to surface because of a gag order preventing all parties in the juvenile court proceeding from speaking with the news media.

As of March 13, the suspect has been free under supervised electronic monitoring and must remain inside his residence 24 hours a day, according to the order. He may not use a cell phone or a computer. Only family members, clergy members and teachers or tutors may visit him, and all visitors must be approved by his probation officer. He is prohibited from contacting the victims or their families.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was contacted yesterday by parents who had heard that the suspect had been released from the detention center and was living once again in the community. Those parents, who did not want to be identified, expressed concerns that the suspect might be permitted to attend Upper St. Clair High School now that he has returned to the community.

The current conditions of his release prevent that however.

The suspect's defense attorney, Caroline Roberto, said she could not comment.

Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said he could not comment on the case, but "to the extent that there has been a change in the bond, bail and/or housing, the families who represented themselves as victims have been notified of those changes."

Also yesterday, the Post-Gazette obtained a copy of the gag order Judge McVay issued Feb. 25, which was 10 days after the district attorney ordered the Upper St. Clair police department to refrain from releasing any further updates on the case, including notice of new charges against the suspect. The district attorney also instructed family members and others associated with the case not to speak to reporters.

The suspect, who was 14 at the time of his arrest, was charged by Upper St. Clair police on Feb. 7 with five counts of rape and single counts of simple assault, aggravated assault and making terroristic threats in connection with what police said were attacks on two female students at Upper St. Clair High.

Police said those attacks occurred between late November and Feb. 4 and some were in a secluded stairwell at the high school.

Before the gag order, another defense attorney in the case, Lester Crawford, repeatedly stated that the charges against the suspect were fabrications.

On Feb, 12, new charges were filed accusing the suspect of raping a third girl and sexually assaulting a fourth fellow student.

Mr. Manko said the district attorney's office ordered parties involved in the case to stop providing information because it is inappropriate to release details in cases involving juveniles. The Post-Gazette reported on March 4, however, that additional charges had been filed in connection with two more female victims, but it was unclear what those charges were.

The information came from an internal report from the Upper St. Clair police department to the township commissioners and acting township manager. A copy of the report was obtained by the Post-Gazette.

Neither the Upper St. Clair police nor district attorney's office would confirm what, if any, additional charges were filed.