PITTSBURGH — A former substitute teacher in the Plum School District pleaded guilty Thursday to charges connected to a sex scandal at the high school.
As part of the plea agreement, Michael Cinefra, 30, could face 30 to 60 years behind bars when he is sentenced in February. His lawyer said the sentence may be reduced if the judge accepts Cinefra's plea arrangement at the hearing.
"He knows what he did was wrong and it’s devastated his life, but he has to pay the consequences for his actions,” Cinefra's attorney, Pat Thomassey, said.
Three other teachers were also arrested last year.
Cinefra was arrested in September 2015 and accused of having sex with a 15-year-old female student. He pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person younger than 16, unlawful contact with a minor, institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Teachers Jason Cooper and Joseph Ruggieri were charged in February 2015 with having sex with female students.
Under a plea agreement, Cooper, 39, will spend 18 to 36 months in prison with a five-year probation stint and a lifetime requirement that he register as a sex offender.
Joseph Ruggieri will spend two to five years in prison after pleading guilty. In addition to his prison sentence, he will spend five years on probation and will be a registered sex offender for life.
Drew Zoldak, was charged with witness intimidation. Zoldak was accused of identifying Ruggieri's accuser in class. A jury found him not guilty in June.
As part of the plea agreement, Cinefra will be banned from having contact with the victim or her family. His teaching license will be revoked.
"The evidence was overwhelming and he admitted his mistake to the police," Thomassey said. "He’s ruined his life and he understands that.”
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