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2nd Plum HS teacher accused of having sex with student charged; More victims possible

PITTSBURGH — A second Plum Senior High School teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student is facing charges.

Plum police said an investigation into an unrelated student-teacher relationship that began on Feb. 2 revealed that Joseph Ruggieri III, 40, was involved in a sexual relationship with a minor female student.

Ruggieri is an English teacher at the high school and the vice president of the Plum Borough Education Association, which represents the district's 268 teachers.

Authorities said the relationship involved inappropriate conduct that occurred at Ruggieri’s house.

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office was contacted on Sunday and informed of the relationship in addition to the investigation’s findings.

The Plum Police Department subsequently charged Ruggieri with one count of institutional sexual assault and one count of corruption of minors. He was arrested Tuesday night at his home and taken to Allegheny County Jail.

Plum Police Chief Jeffrey Armstrong  said the investigation into Ruggieri continues and there could be more victims.

“There are additional allegations involving the same teacher with other victims spread out over a couple years,” Armstrong said. “We are treating those (allegations) as a separate investigation.”

The superintendent of the Plum Borough School District released the following statement Wednesday:

"The Plum Police Department recently informed the district that a second Plum Senior High School teacher was charged with having inappropriate student relationships. This individual and the other employee charged last week are unrelated. We cannot discuss either report at this time. The district is not investigating any other inappropriate student-teacher relationships.

"As you can imagine, this has been a difficult time for our student and staff. We are disheartened. We ask that as the courts determine the outcome of each case, all individuals within and outside the school system limit rumors and the spread of misinformation."

Plum School Board Treasurer Joe Tommarello also spoke to Channel 11 about the situation.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, whom have been affected by these alleged crimes,” he said.

Tomarello said protecting students are the school board's top priority.

"I will be introducing and discussing a Non-Fraternization Policy to the board that will clearly spell out in black-and-white what type of behavior and communication will or will not be tolerated between employees and students of the district,” he said.

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