Police: Counselor had sex with student
UNION TWP. » State Police have charged a woman after she allegedly had a sexual relationship with a student while she worked as a guidance counselor at Daniel Boone Area High School.
Jamie Witzel, 40, of Schwenksville, is facing charges of statutory sexual assault and related offenses after an investigation revealed she had begun a relationship with a male student between September 2016 and August 2017, State Police said in a report released Thursday.
State Police first announced the investigation with limited information in February 2018 when the incident was reported. At that time, it was reported that the staff member involved had been suspended pending the outcome of
the investigation.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the alleged relationship was reported to police by the school, at which time police spoke with the victim. Police were informed that the relationship began with discussing school-related topics and progressed from there.
Police say Witzel allegedly began communicating with the teen outside of school via social media apps and that eventually, the relationship became sexual.
Police say the two would arrange to meet up at school or in Witzel’s car to have sex.
Police received downloaded content from Witzel’s phone and computer revealing notes discussing her physical relationship with the victim, court documents say.
According to state police, Witzel voluntarily turned herself in on Aug. 24.
Daniel Boone School District responded to the charges in a statement posted on the district’s website.
“Immediately upon receipt of reports of the alleged inappropriate relationship, the district administration reported this matter to all appropriate legal authorities. The district also immediately took action to separate Ms. Witzel from her professional duties at the district, and her employment with the district was subsequently terminated,” read part of the statement from Acting Superintendent Robert Hurley.
“The district will continue to do everything in its power to ensure the safety and welfare of its students. We very much regret any distress this matter has caused to our community.”
Witzel has been charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, indecent assault and institutional sex assault.
She was arraigned on Aug. 24 before District Judge David E. Glass and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 20 again before Glass. Bail was set at $50,000 unsecured.
The high school is located at 501 Chestnut St. (Route 345) in Union Township, which doesn’t have its own police force and relies on state police from Reading for coverage.