Bad Bad Teacher

(09/03/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Stephen W. Shaffer, 55, who prior to retirement taught science at Somerset Area Junior High School in Somerset, Pennsylvania has been arrested on allegations of raping and sexually assaulting one of his former students in 2001, when the girl was 13 and 14-years-old.

Shaffer is charged with rape, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, indecent exposure and corruption of minors on allegations that he engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl when she was in eighth grade.

It is alleged that in early 2001 that Shaffer attempted to get the girl to touch him in a sexual manner and that in April of that year that he raped her on couch in the basement of his home.

Police say that the charges are based upon on consistent interviews with the victim and love letters, cards and notes from Shaffer that indicate a physical relationship existed between the two.

Earlier this year, Shaffer surrendered his teaching certificate as the state’s Department of Education investigated a “personal, romantic and sexual relationship” with a student.

Following his arrest Shaffer was reportedly released on bond under the conditions that he surrender his passport and deed to his home within 48 hours. He is also to have no contact with the victim or her family and must stay at least 500 yards away from them.

10/08/08 - Preliminary Hearing

A preliminary hearing was held for Stephen Shaffer today and the judge bound him over for trial on charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, indecent exposure and corruption of minors.

Shaffer was bound over in spite of what media reports are calling “often inconsistent testimony from the now 21-year-old woman and a lack of physical evidence.”

Shaffer remains free on bond pending resolution of his case.

References:

Teacher accused of sex assault faces trial (10/08/08)

Former Somerset teacher charged with rape (09/03/08)

Former Somerset teacher charged in rape (09/03/08)

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 at 10:40 pm and is filed under Junior High Schools, ME-FV, Old Cases, Pennsylvania, Retired. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.