HARRISBURG, PA — Theron Roberts, a former band director at Crestwood High School, has been sentenced to serve six to 23½ months in prison for sexually assaulting a student in 2019. The sentence was handed down on Friday after Roberts was found guilty on several charges, including felony institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.
The conviction followed a June trial where the jury heard testimony detailing Roberts’ predatory behavior. According to the evidence presented, Roberts, 41, initiated a relationship with the victim when the student was in seventh grade, which later evolved into inappropriate behavior and sexual advances once the student reached high school. During one-on-one classes, Roberts engaged in acts such as touching the student’s thigh, making inappropriate comments about the student’s personal relationships, and groping the student’s clothing in intimate areas. Further testimony revealed that Roberts assaulted the student in a secluded alcove, where he grabbed the student’s buttocks and issued threats to ensure silence.
Attorney General Michelle Henry emphasized the gravity of the offenses, stating, “This sentence ensures that the defendant is held accountable for what was predatory behavior and a blatant abuse of his position of authority. When someone in a position of trust chooses to exploit and abuse a student, it shakes the foundation of our educational system. Our schools should be safe spaces for students to feel comfortable learning and forming healthy relationships, not in fear of being preyed upon.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Roberts is mandated to register under the Sexual Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA) for life, a requirement reflecting the serious nature of his crimes. However, the court granted Roberts the option to remain free on $25,000 unsecured bail as he plans to appeal the conviction, according to statements from his defense team.
The prosecution of the case was led by Deputy Attorney General Julia van Leeuwen and Senior Deputy Attorney Lauren Eichelberger.
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