Plum HS teacher accused of having sex with student placed on house arrest

PITTSBURGH — A judge ruled Thursday that a Plum Senior High School teacher accused of having sex with a student can be released from jail and placed on house arrest.

FREE APPS | NOW | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

• Check out the new stores, eatery coming to Ross Park Mall
• Judge orders couple to get married, implies lesser sentence
• GALLERY: 2015 New York Auto Show
• Report: Girlfriend runs over sex offender caught trying to abuse girl

Joseph Ruggieri has been behind bars since March 17, when he turned himself in to face a witness intimidation charge after police learned that he might have contacted the alleged victim.

According to a criminal complaint, the victim's mother told police that Ruggieri, 40, contacted her daughter "several times" via FaceTime.

Ruggieri had been released from police custody after being initially arrested in February and charged with institutional sexual assault.

Ruggieri will be placed on house arrest after being fitted for an ankle monitor. He will not be allowed Internet or cellphone access, and has been ordered to have no contact with anyone associated with the case aside from his lawyers.

Channel 11's Alan Jennings asked defense attorney Randall Ricciuti about Ruggieri's time in jail.

"He's doing fine, has a clean record. He's never been in trouble and he's very upset about this, and the last place he wants to be is in jail with the Easter holiday right around the corner," said Ricciuti.

A second Plum Senior High School teacher, Jason Cooper, is also accused of having sex with a student and is also charged with institutional sexual assault. He is also charged with corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors, as well as witness intimidation after authorities said he contacted the alleged victim and talked with her about her pending testimony.

RELATED STORIES:

• Plum teacher turns himself in to face new charge
• Teacher accused of having sex with student facing new intimidation charge
• New charge for Plum teacher accused of having sexual relationship with student
• 2nd Plum HS teacher accused of having sex with student charged; More victims possible
• Plum HS teacher accused of having sexual relationship with student arrested

WPXI