Ex-staffer charged with sexual assault on student
A female staffer at Hamburg High School had sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy, Berks County detectives said.
A female staff member at Hamburg High School had sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy in a classroom while they were alone after seducing the teen for three weeks with texts and nude photos via a mobile app, Berks County detectives said Thursday.
Krista A. Stump, 34, Orwigsburg, who is no longer employed by the district, surrendered to detectives at the Hamburg office of District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose on Thursday morning to face charges of institutional sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor.
Stump was taken to the central processing center in the Berks County Courthouse, where she was awaiting arraignment.
Detectives said the investigation began after authorities received a Childline referral on Feb. 13 regarding an allegation that a staff member had inappropriate contact with a high school student.
According to investigators:
Detectives with the district attorney’s office interviewed the student and he disclosed that one of his teachers, whom he identified as Stump, had “come onto” him in a classroom. Stump also requested that the victim add her to his Snapchat account.
The victim hesitantly agreed and subsequently started to receive text messages from her. The victim described the incoming text messages from Stump as “weird” and “sexual.” In addition to the text messages, Stump sent the victim nude images of herself. The victim said this went on for two to three weeks.
Stump was employed as a paraprofessional at the high school on Nov. 19. It was not clear when her employment was terminated.
Detectives learned that Stump had indecent contact with the teen inside the classroom when they were alone.
Detectives filed the charges Thursday morning at Bagenstose’s office, and the district judge signed an arrest warrant.
A former Hamburg High School teacher, Holly A. Smith, was sentenced to prison in July for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student.