The Morning Call reports yet another incident of an adult teachers involvement with an underage high school student, this time in Pennsylvania.
According to officials, 26-year-old Hannah Marth of Lehigh Township had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student. Marth was a track and field coach at Northampton Area High School in the Easton Area School District at the time.
Superintendent David Piperato said the District Attorneys office notified him of Marths arrest. He said, As a practice, the School District does not comment on ongoing criminal matters or personnel matters. However, the school District intends to cooperate fully with the authorities in this matter and will take all necessary action to ensure the safety of our students.
In May of 2021, Marth coached the javelin team. The student in question was part of the track and field program. In 2022, the interaction between student and teacher took a turn when it was alleged that Marth texted the teen student at 2 AM and invited him to her home. Upon arrival, she initiated sexual contact.
According to the state police, Marth was interviewed and confessed to a romantic involvement with the student in May of 2021. When interviewed by state police, the teen victim told the police he and the teacher had been in a romantic relationship since 2021, which ended in October 2022.
District Attorney Terry Houck said, A trusted relationship between a student-athlete, an athletes parents, and a coach can be a vulnerable one. An abuse of that relationship shows a coachs blatant disregard for the well-being of those she or he coached, and above all, the law. This defendant defied that trust when she committed this alleged crime against the victim.
On Thursday, the Northampton County District Attorneys Office said that Marth is charged with institutional sexual assault and sexual assault by a sports official. Both of these assaults are third-degree felonies.
On Thursday afternoon, Marth was arraigned and freed. Unsecured bail was set at $75,000.
According to Fox News, Superintendent Piperato did not disclose whether the school still employed Marth or if she was on leave. The question was answered on Friday morning. The Districts website does not have Marth listed among the faculty.
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