UPDATED: Oakmont Police Charge Highmark CEO with Assault, Trespass

The chief executive officer of Highmark is facing charges after allegedly fighting with his mistress' husband in Oakmont on Sunday, March 25.

have charged Kenneth R. Melani, 58, of Fox Chapel, with defiant trespass and simple assault.

Melani is taking an unpaid leave of absence, according to a statement from Highmark spokesman Michael Weinstein.

Melani began his career with Highmark in 1989 and has been CEO since 2003, according to his biography on the Highmark website. He serves on many boards, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Washington and Jefferson College, and Variety the Children’s Charity of Pittsburgh.

According to the criminal complaint filed at Plum District Magistrate Linda Zucco's office:

Police were dispatched to a home on Canterbury Court at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Melani was engaged in an argument with Mark Myler—Myler's wife, Melissa Myler also was present.

Melissa Myler told police she and her husband had known Melani socially for a number of years. In October, Melani hired her to work for Highmark and they began to have an affair.

Melissa Myler and Melani began to live together in Fox Chapel in January, and then Melissa Myler became aware that Melani had hired a private investigator to follow her.

Melissa Myler told police she had gone to her former husband's home on Sunday to speak to him when Melani walked into the house and accused her of cheating on him with Mark Myler.

A fight between Melani and Mark Myler broke out on the front porch and a neighbor called police. Verona police also assisted during the call.

In the complaint, police said Melani made phone calls to attorneys in which he said something "to the effect that if the police hadn't been there, he would have killed the Mylers."

When contacted, Oakmont police Chief David DiSanti said he couldn't comment on the matter because it is a pending case.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 4 at 9 a.m. before Zucco.

Stay tuned with Plum-Oakmont Patch for more details.

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