Recent Child Sexual Abuse Incidents in Pennsylvania Schools

Pennsylvania’s children and their parents continue to be terrorized by child-predator teachers and school employees who use their positions of trust to sexually abuse students in their schools.  According to Attorney Andrew Shubin, “the institutions that are designed to protect our children, in essence, are the very same ones that are placing them in harm’s way by providing pedophile teachers access to our kids.”   

For over three decades, Attorney Andrew Shubin Law has received national recognition for his compassion and advocacy for victims of institutional sexual abuse.  Attorney Shubin and his courageous clients, including multiple Jerry Sandusky and Penn State child sexual abuse victims, have relentlessly demanded accountability from the institutions that have betrayed our kids and their families.  Attorney Shubin has achieved historic results for child sexual abuse survivors, including significant financial compensation, while providing dignified representation that prioritizes the needs of victims and their families.

Here are recent incidents which underscore the need for our child sexual abuse survivors and their families to obtain justice and demand accountability from educator predators and the schools that enable and embolden them.  

Conestoga High School Teacher Faces Multiple Charges

Michelle Mercogliano, a 35-year-old special education teacher at Conestoga High School in Chester County, has been charged with 63 felony counts, including institutional sexual assault and corruption of minors. Authorities allege that she engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student, providing him with marijuana and conducting encounters primarily at her parents’ residence. The relationship reportedly began in February 2025 and was facilitated through social media communications.  

Chester Community Charter School Staff Accused of Child Abuse

In Delaware County, twenty staff members at Chester Community Charter School have been charged in connection with the physical abuse of 26 students, ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. The allegations involve the use of painful restraint techniques, such as pressure point holds and kneeing children to the ground. Nine individuals face charges including unlawful restraint and child endangerment, while eleven others are charged with failing to report the abuse. Surveillance footage captured many of these incidents, prompting the school to terminate the involved employees and sever ties with the staffing agency responsible for their hiring. 

Norristown Middle School Teacher Arrested

John Richards, a 57-year-old teacher at Norristown Area School District, was arrested and charged with attempted institutional sexual assault and related offenses. The charges stem from allegations that Richards attempted to engage in sexual activity with a student. 

Bucks County Piano Teacher Charged with Sexual Abuse

Timothy Shay, a 49-year-old piano teacher in Bucks County, has been charged with multiple counts of indecent assault and corruption of minors. Authorities allege that Shay sexually abused underage students over a period of several years, with victims as young as five years old. The investigation is ongoing, and Shay has been removed from his teaching position.  

Lackawanna Trail High School Principal Charged for Failing to Report Abuse

Mark Patrick Murphy, the principal of Lackawanna Trail High School in Clinton Township, faces charges for not reporting a teacher’s illicit relationship with a student. Despite multiple complaints from faculty members and concerns raised by a parent, Murphy did not report the affair to Childline, the state’s child abuse hotline, instead opting to protect the teacher’s career. 

Springfield Township Substitute Teacher and Coach Charged with Child Sexual Abuse and Trafficking

Tyler Degiacomo, a 33-year-old former substitute teacher and PIAA baseball coach in Springfield Township, is facing multiple charges related to the sexual abuse and trafficking of minors. Investigations revealed that he allegedly abused at least four minors in Pennsylvania and Alabama, using social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat to contact victims. He has been charged with trafficking in minors, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse of children, and related offenses. 

Former Harriton High School Teacher Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Exploitation

Jeremy Schobel, a former teacher at Harriton High School and the High School of Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for an elaborate child exploitation scheme. Schobel posed as minor girls online to deceive underage victims into sending sexually explicit images and videos. His actions, often conducted from his school classroom, led to charges including receipt and manufacture of child pornography. 

Riverview Intermediate Unit  in Clarion Special Education Teacher Charged with Possession of Child Exploitation Material

Michael William Boston, a 39-year-old Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 in Clarion special education teacher, was charged with over 60 counts related to child pornography after investigators discovered more than 1,500 files on his personal devices. The material included disturbing videos of infants and toddlers. Boston, who worked with hearing-impaired students across multiple school districts, was arrested following a complex investigation initiated by cyber tips. 

Our Experienced Child Sexual Abuse Lawyers are Here to Help

If you or someone you know has been affected by such incidents, please seek legal counsel to understand your rights and options. Shubin Law is committed to supporting survivors in their demands for accountability and justice.