Teacher, school board member charged with failing to report child sex abuse

ALIQUIPPA — A substitute teacher and a school board member in the Aliquippa School District are facing charges of failing to report child sexual abuse.

Aileen Gilbert, a school board member, was arraigned Monday afternoon. There is a warrant out for Ahna Anderson, a substitute teacher.

According to the Beaver County district attorney, two female students showed Anderson a cellphone video depicting a sex act between a 12 year old girl and an older student and didn’t immediately report it to school officials, police or the state.

Court paperwork said one of the students told investigators that Anderson asked her to show Gilbert the video because Gilbert was working on a program to address that kind of behavior by students.

According to the criminal complaint, both Anderson and Gilbert were shown the video on April 26 at Aliquippa Elementary School.

A report was made to authorities the next day after the vice principal was made aware of the incident and contacted school officials, law enforcement and Pennsylvania Child Line.

Under Pennsylvania law, school personnel and individuals who play an integral part in regularly scheduled school programs are mandatory reporters of suspected child sex abuse.

Anderson and Gilbert are charged with violations of the “persons required to report suspected child abuse” statute and endangering the welfare of a child.

For more information on Pennsylvania ChildLine,

, or to report suspected abuse call 800-932-0313.

Cox Media Group