Stephen Shaffer
Posted by Webmaster in Hall of Shame, Junior High Schools, ME-FV, Old Cases, Pennsylvania, Retired
(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.
Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts
A Somerset County Court jury has found Stephen Shaffer guilty on two counts of indecent assault and one count each of endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of minors.
The jury found Shaffer not guilty of raping the eighth-grade student in 2001.
Shaffer faces a maximum of 14 years in prison at sentencing which was set for January 6th.
Reportedly, Shaffer will be required to register as a sexual offender under Megan’s law for 10 years.
References:
Ex-teacher found not guilty of raping student (10/20/09)
Retired W. Pa. teacher convicted on sex charges (10/21/09)
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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Doesn’t anybody see the big red GUILTY above his name?!! Stephen Shaffer is GUILTY of manipulating a little girl. Whether or not he was found guilty of “rape”, this man still faces up to 14 years in prison for doing WRONG. A CHEERLEADING OUTFIT IS A UNIFORM FOR CHEERLEADERS, just as a jersey and football pants are a uniform for football players. How do you justify his wrongdoings by the victim’s clothing?! She was a child, and he was a PREDATOR. She continued to babysit his children because he was manipulative, and she could no longer tell right from wrong. As I previously stated, she was confused by a GROWN AUTHORITY FIGURE’S inappropriate words and actions. I don’t understand how anything could possibly justify this, especially “outfits”. These girls were junior high cheerleaders. (children). I feel that some people often forget that this is about a 14 year old girl, not the 20 some year old woman you see today. It’s a shame that this has become a place to bash the girl to some people. This website is to inform the public of teachers that are accused of crimes. He is guilty.
You people are sick bastards. Teachers are supposed to be leaders, role models, our childrens future starts with them!! The young lady went through hell and back trying to do the right thing. Instead of bashing on her and blaming her naïve 13 year old self…. Get behind her!! Thank her!!! She may have helped many other girls in many ways. Anyone who knew or knows steve shaffer can fairly state that he was creepy and made you uncomfortable. So, until you know your facts…don’t hurt her anymore.
Steve Shaffer was a great teacher. No one really knows the truth as to what happened except the teacher and the girl. I remember various cheerleaders being in his room when they were supposed to be in the sr. high. but i did not see anyone mentioning that they were over there, no one ever told the jury that. Thats why i think there is questions that need to be asked. and why would she keep babysitting his children if she thought that he “loved” her?
I don’t think he will be going after any little kids, I think he only likes girls who flirt with him and wear cheerleading out fits and try to lead him on. So I’ve heard.
Also he was found guilt by 12 juries, but not for rape or half the things the girl said he did. her stories must not have been straight. I guess it’s hard to know what to say when she had feelings for him and put herself in the situations.
And I do know that if he is living across from a school and has had to be listing on megans law site ( which I checked and he is not on there yet) that his probation time will not be all 10 yrs. It all depends if he is listed as a sex offender or violent preditor..But during his probation time i do know that there are limitations on how far or close he can live to a school or even b on the school grounds.. I just went thru this with a sex offender being on school grounds after his probation time @ somerset little Eagles football practices..And cuz his probation was up he was allowed on school grounds cuz he was listed as a sex offender ( indicent exposure) not a violent preditor…Well My son was on that team and i feel that no matter how u are list in the system something needs to be done with the probation time.. It should run all 10 yrs like of being on Megan;s law…Children need to be protected and if this man is living near a school then something needs to be done about it..
What the hell are some of u ppl talking about?? What are u thinking?? I dont care about outfits or girls being and acting like teenagers….THE POINT IS HE WAS A “ADULT” AND THERE IS JUST “NO” EXCUSE” for HIS actions!!!!
I personally know that there were several other girls, which is a real shame. Cheerleading outfits are cheerleading outfits, whats illegal is illegal.
The rights of the individuals are taken away when found guilty…and if you note the red “guilty” above his picture…perhaps you’d see he’s been found guilty by a panel of 12 jury….unanimous vote!!!
How is this website in existence? Where are the rights of the accused?
And, I don’t think there will be any other girls coming forward, because I’m pretty sure there aren’t any other girls.
It does not matter that this man may have been a great science teacher, or who ultimately came forward first. The fact of the matter is, Stephen Shaffer was a grown man at the time of the incident. Young teenage girls can not be blamed for their “outfits” or any other claims being made that might have “led him on”. A professional teacher, especially one with a wife and two children, should never be distracted by a student, let alone try to get involved with one. Even if the young girl(s) were in fact “leading him to believe they had feelings for him”, THEY WERE STILL CHILDREN!!!! (13 and 14 years old), and he was a grown man. Stephen Shaffer’s actions are absolutely unexcusable, and cannot be justified by any means . This young woman’s life has been drastically affected by these incidents, and it is astonishing to see anyone blame this innocent student who was confused and controlled by a grown authority figure’s inappropriate words and actions. I’m sure that there were many other young women who have been affected negatively by this man in some way, and I hope these women will come forward and do the right thing.
It is unfortunate as well that this man was my science teacher during these incidents. Shame on the school.
I hope this manipulating man gets as much prison time as possible.
God Bless all the victims in this sitation.
He was a great Science teacher, I just wish someone came forward way before they did. Yes, Mr.Shaffer was a grown man and should have known boundaries and not taken advantage of any students. However, it’s hard to know that the students in some way let it happen. The girls lead him on with their outfitts and the way the acted around him, what do you expect when young, pretty girls are leading a teacher on. He will certainly start to develop feelings. I guess I just don’t understand everything because I don’t know why a girl would be babysitting his kids when they are only a few years younger. I feel bad for everyone that is involved and I’m not saying that Mr. Shaffer doesn’t deserve his time in jail, because he does, but I think the schools need to be more aware of the effect that students can have on teachers and that bad things do happen in this world.
Praying for everyone involved.
Do the girls owe time behind bars to for leading him on and then in the end making him look like the only bad person?
I am hoping that the bravery of one person will motivate all the other girls to come forward and do the right thing. This man owes these girls some time behind bars.
Interestingly this guy has just mooved from his house to an apartment right across the street from an elementary school! WTF