A 54-year-old physical education teacher and wrestling coach in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was arrested following allegations of sexual abuse involving minors. the suspect, identified as Theodore, faces multiple charges after at least three victims came forward to authorities.
Theodore faces charges for statutory sexual assault
Theodore, a 54-year-old educator, was arrested on Friday, September 25,according to a press release from the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. The charges brought against him include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexal assault, and unlawful contact with a minor.
The alleged misconduct is reported to have occurred between 2019 and 2023. Theodore held dual roles within the North Penn School District, serving as a physical education teacher at Montgomery Elementary School and a wrestling coach at Pennbrook Middle School. While the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office has confirmed three specific victims, investigators are currently looking into whether additional students were targeted during this four-year window.
The North Penn School District's response to the September 25 arrest
The North Penn School District has implemented emergency support measures following the arrest of Theodore. Because the accused worked with the IRONKnights Elementary Triathlon and served as an athletic coach, the district's superintendent noted that his influence reached many families throughout the community.
Counseling services have been made available to students and faculty at several locations to help the community process the news, including:
- Montgomery Elementary School
- Pennbrook Middle School
- North Penn High School
As the district manages the fallout, officials stated there is currently no evidence that the alleged incidents took place on school property. The Superintendent expressed that the information was difficult for the district to process given the teacher's widespread involvement in student athletics.
Allegations of online grooming involving a 13-year-old victim
The investigation into Theodore was initiated after a young adult reported a history of sexual abuse that allegedly began when she was 13 years old. according to the report, the victim stated that she first met Theodore through online contact.
Law enforcement subsequently identified two other alleged victims through this investigation. One of these individuals was a former student who reportedly engaged in online communication with Theodore after she was no longer enrolled in his specific classroom , suggesting a pattern of digital contact extending beyond traditional school hours.
Theodore's upcoming preliminary hearing on October 1
Theodore appeared for an arraignment on Saturday, September 26, where he was denied bail. He is currently being held in jail pending further legal proceedings.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 1. At this stage, it remains unverified whether Theodore has retained legal counsel or if he has entered a formal plea regarding the specific charges of sexual assault and unlawful contact.
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