Former teacher accused of sex assault
Miller charged with alleged rape of 9-year-old girl
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A former Westmont Hilltop Elementary teacher has been charged with the rape of a 9-year-old in 2015, according WTAJ reports.
Shawn Edward Miller, 53, of Johnstown, is accused of sexually assaulting the girl when she was in fourth grade. Miller was her music teacher at the time, the victim told police during a February interview. The victim is now in 10th grade.
Miller has been charged with 12 felonies, including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, sexual assault and sexual contact with a student, as well as misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and indecent exposure.
According to court documents, Miller kept the student after class, including a four-day period when the assaults allegedly occurred.
At the time of the assault in November 2015, the student told her parents, who then contacted the school, court documents state.
The 2015 incident is not the first complaint lodged against Miller, according to court documents.
Police obtained school district documents about a complaint reported against Miller in 2011 in which he was accused of inappropriately touching a student.
At that time, an investigation was undertaken by the Cambria County District Attorney's Office and although documents state he didn't meet the threshold of indecent assault, he did meet the threshold for summary harassment.
Miller was ordered by the district to review Pennsylvania State Education Association training videos, attend counseling, undergo a psychosexual evaluation and volunteer for a clinical polygraph, according to the school records. Miller did not follow through with the polygraph, according to police.
School records obtained by police show Miller was placed on administrative leave in December 2019.
In January 2020, Miller resigned during an investigatory meeting that included 20 to 30 "touching" complaints against him, according to police documents.
Miller was arraigned Tuesday in front of Magisterial District Judge Susan M. Gindlesperger and was released on 10% of $275,000 bail.
Miller's preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 11.