Pennsylvania special-education teacher, 35, charged for sex assaults on 16-year-old student
Pennsylvania special-education teacher, 35, charged for sex assaults on 16-year-old student
A married special-education teacher in Pennsylvania is facing over 60 charges for allegedly bringing a student to her parents' home and having sex with him about a dozen times and providing him with medical marijuana.
Michelle Mercogliano, 35, was charged on Wednesday after the 16-year-old victim's family contacted police.
The teacher at Conestoga High School in Berwyn could be indicted on 63 charges, including institutional sexual assault and the corruption of minors.
Accused: Michelle Mercogliano, 35, was charged on Wednesday after a 16-year-old student's family contacted police about her allegedly having sex with the boy
Mercogliano began a sexual relationship with the boy in February, according to a criminal complaint from the Tredyffrin Township PD.
The student's father provided police with some marijuana packaging he found in his son's closet with Mercogliano's name on the label, according to the affidavit.
Court documents obtained by ABC News stated: 'The [victim] disclosed that after school he would walk from Conestoga High School to the... apartment complex where Mercogliano would pick him up in the back parking lot and drive to his home, to her parents' residence, or drive him to the Sunnyside Marijuana Dispensary in Phoenixville.'
The investigation began after the victim told his sister of his relationship with Mercogliano and the sibling then informed their parents.
Fresh hiring: Mercogliano was a relatively new teacher at Pennsylvania's Conestoga High School, and she had started working there last fall
The teacher and student allegedly had sex about 12 times, the victim told police, and often in Mercogliano's parents' home in Wayne, according to the complaint.
Mercogliano was also said to have provided the boy with marijuana about 15 times.
She allegedly communicated with him through Snapchat 'to go undetected' or via text message.
The teacher lists herself as married on her Facebook page.
School District Superintendent Richard Gusick said in a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Mercogliano was placed on leave on Tuesday, and he added that the district was 'deeply troubled by these allegations'.
Gusick said: 'We have no information at this time to indicate that the criminal investigation involves other students. The District remains committed to providing a safe and supportive school environment for all students.'
According to the superintendent, Mercogliano was a relatively new teacher to the high school and had only started working there last fall.
The teacher's not yet been arrested, but Chester County District Attorney's Office said she had been 'cooperative and arranging an appropriate time to turn herself in via her attorney'.
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