WET CHESTER, PA — The Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced that a jury yesterday convicted 42-year-old Seth Reich of Downingtown, PA, of sexual assault, indecent assault, simple assault, and furnishing alcohol to minors for assaulting a former student from the PA Leadership Charter School Center for Performing & Fine Arts (CPFA), at a hotel in Uwchlan Township. His bail was revoked by Judge Analisa Sondergaard and he was remanded to Chester County Prison. He will be sentenced at a later date.
“The defendant exploited his position of trust and authority as a high school teacher to develop and maintain inappropriate relationships with former students,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “He then got the underage victim drunk and sexually and physically assaulted her. We thank the West Goshen Township Police Department and our prosecutors who fought for justice. These are difficult cases to prosecute, and we commend the victims who had the courage to come forward.”
Information presented in court showed that on June 26, 2021, a 19-year-old woman reported to West Goshen Township Police Department that she had been in a sexual relationship with the defendant when she was 17 years old from June 2019-March 2021. She stated that they had consensual sex more than 100 times in various locations. Thousands of communications, including text messages, videos, and images, were recovered between the victim and defendant from the victim’s phone during a forensic examination.
During the investigation, the victim disclosed one encounter with the defendant and another underage woman that occurred at Clarion Hotel at 815 North Pottstown Pike in Uwchlan Township.
The second victim reported that she had also been a student of the defendant’s and graduated from the CPFA in 2018. Both young women met the defendant at a hotel to celebrate the conclusion of the defendant’s play. The defendant supplied alcohol and the women became intoxicated. The second victim told police that she was too intoxicated to consent to sexual intercourse and did not recall having sex with the defendant. However, text messages from August 28, 2019, reveal them all communicating about the encounter the night before. The defendant admitted to engaging in intercourse with both victims while they were intoxicated, and also apologized for slapping the second victim.
West Goshen Township Police Department conducted the investigation which led to the successful prosecution of Reich. Senior Deputy District Attorney Erin O’Brien and ADA Jessica Acito were the prosecutors.
Call Childline if you suspect child abuse: 1-800-932-0313.
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