http://www.dailylocal.com/article/DL...EWS/160429958|
A former teacher’s aide and coach at Conestoga High School was arrested for allegedly having sex with one of her students, police announced Thursday.
Christine Towers, 26, of Phoenixville, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student over the past month, according to the criminal complaint. Towers has been charged with institutional sexual assault, endangering welfare of children and corruption of minors.
Police said Towers was a teacher’s aide and athletic coach, coaching softball and other sports, at Conestoga High School during the time of the alleged sexual abuse.
However, Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Superintendent Richard Gusick said in a letter to parents that Towers was only employed by the district from September 2014 through February 2016, and that Towers no longer works for the district in any capacity, as of April 19.
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Tower’s attorney, Cary McClain, of the McClain Firm in Ardmore, said that these allegations of any inappropriate conduct, which he refutes, allegedly occurred outside the time period that Towers was a teacher’s aide at TESD because she was no longer working as a teacher’s aide in March. McClain said he is also conducting his own investigation into the allegations against Towers.
“Ms. Towers is a good person,” McClain said. “She’s an educated, hard worker, and she maintains her innocence.”
Gusick said that while Towers was employed by the district, she had worked as a paraeducator. In the 2014-2015 school year, she coached eighth-grade girls’ soccer and seventh-and eighth-grade track at Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School, he said. Towers also worked in the district’s extended school year program in the summer of 2015, he said. This school year, she coached JV girls’ soccer, ninth-grade girls’ basketball, and JV girls’ softball, all at Conestoga High School, he said.
Police received a child abuse report from the Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families on Monday with details about the alleged abuse. Police interviewed the victim at the Chester County Children’s Advocacy Center in West Chester on Tuesday.
The victim told police he was in a sexual relationship with his teacher’s aide, Towers, police said. The victim met Towers and began a personal relationship with her when she was giving him one-on-one tutoring classes at Conestoga High School during the 2015-2016 school year, police said.
The victim told police that the relationship turned sexual on March 17, when Towers reportedly open-mouth kissed the victim and used tongue; the victim said that between approximately March 17 and April 16, Towers allegedly had unprotected sexual intercourse with him on four separate occasions within the confines of Chester County, police said. The victim said Towers had urged him not to tell police about their sexual relationship, police said.
Gusick said Towers had no prior criminal record history when she was hired by the district, and she resigned from all positions before the district was informed of any investigation or charges. He said the matter was reported directly to law enforcement officers, and school officials were notified after their investigation was complete. He said the district currently does not have any information indicating that Towers was inappropriately involved with any athletes she coached or that any adults in the school district were aware of this situation. He said the district is ready to assist any students needing support as a result of learning this information or from having known Towers.
“When those placed in positions of supporting our children are charged with violating a fundamental trust, it is deeply disturbing to us all,” Gusick said. “The welfare of our students remains a top priority. We will continue to support all students as this case moves through the criminal justice system.”
Towers was arraigned Thursday morning, and she is free after posting bail set at 10 percent of $50,000. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on May 27 at Magisterial District Judge Analisa Sondergaard’s court in Wayne.
Towers’ arrest is the latest in a string of scandals at TESD that have resulted in criminal investigations.
Last month, three Conestoga seniors on the football team were charged with assault for allegedly sodomizing a freshman student with a broomstick. Conestoga High School’s former football coach, John Vogan, announced his resignation after this hazing incident.
A sexting scandal at TESD led to criminal charges being filed against three students last November. Tredyffrin police announced on Nov. 3, 2015 that three juveniles had been charged with the distribution of what they called “child erotica, nudity, child pornography and pornography.”
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