A retired teacher who worked for more than four decades at a Pennsylvania school is accused of sexually assaulting a student over 2 yearswhile investigators believe there may be additional victims.
Keith Steininger, 68, who taught and served as a Boy Scout leader at the Girard College boarding school in Pennsylvania for 41 years, allegedly sexually assaulted a female student between 2018 and 2020, when the minor was between 11 and 13 years old. This was reported Tuesday by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
“Sexual contact with a child is always bad. When an adult entrusted with the care and well-being of children participates in that contact, the affront to society is even deeper. “It is both heartbreaking and deeply disturbing that such an individual would take advantage of a vulnerable child,” District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a release.
Upland Borough Police were first notified of the allegations on January 25 of this year, when a father reported that his son had been a victim of sexual assault for two years, alleging that Steininger touched his private parts while. She had been a student at Girard College and was staying at his house.
The school is a boarding school for children from families headed by a single parent or guardian.
“Unfortunately, we believe that given the length of time the defendant has worked with children, it is very likely that more victims will come forward. We ask that anyone with information contact the Upland Police Department at 610-872-3040 x 207 or Detective Sergeant Steven Bannar of the Criminal Investigation Division at 610-891-4118,” Stollsteimer said.
Stollsteimer’s office said that in late February, the alleged victim presented text messages between him and Steininger to investigators. The prosecution also stated that during a phone call between the two on April 11, The suspect allegedly acknowledged having sexual contact with the former student and apologized.
Steininger, who retired from Girard College in 2022, has been charged with sexual contact with a student, indecent assault on a person under 13, unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of a child and related offenses.
He was taken into custody and bail was set at $250,000. His next court date is set for May 2.
“Working on these types of cases is heartbreaking and I deeply respect the men and women who work so tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us,” Stollsteimer said.
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