Investigates

Teacher charged with institutional sexual assault of student

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — A West Mifflin teacher has turned himself in after, police said he admitted to having sex with a student.

According to the criminal complaint, James Horgan admitted the sexual relationship to police but on Tuesday, when he stood in front of a judge on felony charges of institutional sexual assault, he entered a plea of not guilty.

The West Mifflin psychology teacher turned himself in to police with his two sisters and his defense attorney by his side.

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The 22-year veteran of the West Mifflin School District is charged with having sex with a female student inside his classroom after school.

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"Obviously, he's upset. I'm not going to comment on the allegations right now. Obviously, they're very serious," said Pat Thomassey, Horgan's defense attorney.

The victim allegedly told police that she had had sex with Horgan four times, the last time being March 28.

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Police paperwork said that, when detectives went to Horgan's home to ask him about the allegations, he admitted that he had done it.

Thomassey said that didn't happen.

"That's to be litigated, whether or not he'd admitted it or not," Thomassey said.

Horgan has a wife and three children and is now on paid administrative leave.

Sources told Channel 11 that a second teacher was also questioned last week in regard to these allegations.

The attorney representing the victim released the following statement:

"This is deeply disturbing for my client's family, this is upsetting to the family that I represent," said attorney Phil DiLucente. "They want to get to the bottom of this. They want justice to be served."

 

Cox Media Group

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