Teacher faces sex assault charges
NORRISTOWN >> A former teacher at Coventry Christian School in Lower Pottsgrove must answer to charges in Montgomery County Court that he allegedly had sexual contact with a teenage girl who attended the school.
Scott Brandon Cline, 33, of the 100 block of Berks Street, Pottstown, recently waived a preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Maurice H. Saylor on charges of institutional sexual assault, corruption of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful contact with a minor in connection with alleged incidents that occurred with a 16-year-old girl between February and August 2018.
Cline, who remains free on $50,000 bail while awaiting trial, faces a formal arraignment on the charges in Montgomery County Court on Sept. 11.
The investigation began in April 2019, when New Hanover police received information pertaining to statements made by a teenage girl to a therapist, according to court papers. The report, according to a criminal complaint, “indicated that there was a sexual relationship between the juvenile and her former teacher while she was enrolled at the Coventry Christian School.”
The girl subsequently told police that Cline “initiated contact with her by phone” during the 2017-2018 school year “and a relationship formed which evolved into both verbal and physical contact of a sexual nature,” according to the criminal complaint filed by New Hanover Police Officer Michael Salvo.
At the time, the girl was a 16-year-old student at the school and Cline was a 32-year-old instructor at the school, police said.
The first text-based communication with the girl was initiated by Cline on Feb. 16, 2018, police alleged. The investigation uncovered more than 2,500 text messages exchanged between Cline and the girl, many between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. during the school year.
The investigation revealed Cline allegedly had sexual contact with the girl at locations in New Hanover and in his vehicle, according to the criminal com
plaint.
Court papers appeared to indicate that none of the alleged inappropriate sexual contact occurred on school grounds.
Court documents revealed that in May 2019, a cellphone conversation between the girl and Cline was intercepted by police and county detectives.
“During this communication interception, Scott Cline admitted to certain aspects of his relationship with the victim being ‘illegal’ due to her ‘age,’” Salvo alleged in the arrest affidavit. “He also expressed his concerns pertaining to the effect a court case would have on his family.”
Cline allegedly informed the girl that counselors are
“mandated reporters” and asked that the victim refrain from providing details about their relationship to any counselors, according to the criminal complaint.
In May 2019, school officials told New Hanover police that Cline resigned from employment at the school in October 2018, according to court documents.
Contacted on Monday for comment, John Mark Niehls, head of school, said Coventry Christian School administrators cooperated fully with law enforcement.
“We as a school, administration and board are committed to continuing to support the investigation that is going on,” Niehls said.
In a June 9 letter to students’ families Niehls said the allegations are “very upsetting for all of us.”
“Protecting our students and creating a safe learning
environment is fundamental to what we do. This includes policies to protect our students, faculty training, as well as initial and ongoing background and child abuse checks,” Niehls wrote to parents. “As a Christian school, we continue to reinforce Christian values, professional and ethical standards.
“The school administration and board would like to extend our most sincere and heartfelt prayers and support for the families affected by this situation,” Niehls added.
If convicted of all the charges at trial, Cline, who is represented by defense lawyer Evan J. Kelly, faces a possible maximum sentence of 24½-to-49-years in prison.
Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Beeson is handling the case.