News & Politics - Girls' testimony enough to try teacher on sex charges

Ambular · 01-21-2005, 01:26 PM

Quote:

DJ: Girls' testimony enough to try teacher on sex charges

By LES STEWART

Staff Writer

Two teenage girls testified yesterday that a Cedar Crest High School music teacher had inappropriate sexual contact with them during a period of several weeks last fall.

After a nearly two-hour preliminary hearing, District Justice Christine Heck ordered Michael A. Wolf, 34, Landisville, to stand trial.

Wolf was charged Dec. 20 with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors in connection with incidents involving a 16-year-old girl. He also was charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of a minor in a case involving a 17-year-old girl. All of the alleged incidents occurred between early October and Nov. 24.

The 16-year-old girl testified yesterday she knew Wolf from the 2003-04 school year and went to his office to talk to him because she thought of him as a friend. In the first few incidents, she said, Wolf touched her and made comments about her body. The physical contact escalated during several weeks until Wolf kissed her and touched her under her clothes, she testified.

"I kept saying, 'What time is it? I have to go home,'" the girl said.

The last incident occurred Nov. 24, the day before the Thanksgiving break, she said. She went to his office, and Wolf took her into a practice room, where he turned off the lights, closed the door and performed a sexual act on her, she said.

"I was uncomfortable with the situation, but I trusted him, and I didn't think he was harming me," the girl testified. The girl said she once had a crush on Wolf.

The teen said she never told Wolf he could touch her.

"I thought if I said 'Don't' or 'No,' he'd get angry," she testified, adding that Wolf once told her she would not want to see him angry.

Questioned by defense attorney Terrance McGowan, the girl said she told Wolf to stop during only one of the incidents. She also said she voluntarily returned to Wolf's office after the first time he touched and kissed her and realized she and Wolf would have sexual contact if she was alone with him. She said she did not leave during the Nov. 24 incident because she felt Wolf would not let her go.

The 17-year-old testified that Wolf made comments about her body and touched her. On one occasion, he pushed her against a wall and unhooked her bra, the girl testified. She said she told Wolf that he had to finish her homework and left. She said the incidents happened in an office during her lunch period.

In closing arguments at the hearing, McGowan said the district attorney's office was trying to build its case against Wolf based on a lack of consent by the two girls.

"No one ever said no," McGowan said. "They knew what was going to happen."

The defense attorney said there was no evidence of force or compulsion by Wolf, and he argued the girls willingly went back to Wolf's office after the first alleged incidents.

If the incidents happened as the girls claimed, Wolf "abused a position of trust" but did not commit the sexual offenses, McGowan contended.

But Jennifer Gettle, first assistant district attorney, argued that the girls' testimony showed a lack of consent and that the offenses were committed by force, pointing to the 17-year-old's testimony that Wolf pushed her against a wall.

After his arrest, Wolf was suspended without pay. He had been a band director at the school for six years, overseeing the marching band, jazz band and wind ensemble. He remains free on $50,000 bail.

I'm surprised this teacher wasn't outright fired. Even if he wants to argue that it was consensual, it's completely inappropriate

*Ledi* · 01-21-2005, 01:41 PM

These stories creep me out.

86amanda86 · 01-21-2005, 02:06 PM

Here here.

roswellain_chick16 · 01-21-2005, 11:27 PM

eeeewwww

Sorry dont really have much more to say on this type of thing

TokyoNiGHTS · 01-22-2005, 12:19 AM

It's definetly disgusting, but at some point the girls have to be taken accountable. After he touched her once she should've told someone or never went back into a place alone with him.

SuperDeluxe · 01-22-2005, 07:17 AM

Its inappropiate..and he should have been fired...but if the AOC laws in that state we're 16-17...then its not criminal..is it?

Drekkan · 01-22-2005, 08:17 AM

Unless they say no, it isn't illegal. I think the guy should be fired - you can't try and sleep with your students - but if there's no "no" then there's no crime. The "throwing against the wall", well, in the heat of passion isn't it entirely possible, if not possible, that one will push another against a wall? That's not having sex without consent.


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