 |
|
PA School Watch News Archives
|
Pennsylvania- Teacher, Joshua Uhrich, had sex with student, 14, Philly police say
02/07/08-15:44 |
www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1-5teacher-r.6262708feb07,0,1308386.story
themorningcall.com
Joshua Uhrich of Allentown teaches at city high school.
By Manuel Gamiz Jr.
Of The Morning Call
February 7, 2008
An Allentown man who works as a special-education teacher at a Philadelphia high school was charged Wednesday with having sex with a 14-year-old student of the school he met online, authorities said.
Joshua Uhrich, 30, of the 600 block of E. Mosser Street, was charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, interfering with the custody of a minor, indecent assault and corrupting the morals of a minor, according to police officer Tanya Little, a spokeswoman with the Philadelphia Police Department.
He posted $8,000 bail Wednesday.
Uhrich, who teaches at South Philadelphia High School, had been under investigation since Jan. 21, when the 14-year-old girl's mother complained to police of sexual relations between the two, Little said. She said the two met on the social networking Web site MySpace.com and met in Philadelphia on Jan. 12, going back to his home in Allentown that night.
Little said Uhrich and the girl had sexual encounters on several occasions, both in Philadelphia and Allentown, and the girl spent the night at his house on Jan. 20. The encounters in Philadelphia occurred in his vehicle, she said.
Little said the relationship started after Uhrich noticed her months earlier and contacted her via the Web site.
Little said search warrants were served for Uhrich's car, home and computer, and that Philadelphia police would handle the matter.
About two weeks ago, a school district spokesman said Uhrich was suspended with pay from his job while police investigated the allegations. According to published reports, the district changed the suspension to one without pay and will begin the process to fire him.
Uhrich could not be reached for comment.
manuel.gamiz@mcall.com
610-820-6595
Copyright © 2008, The Morning Call
|
|
|
|
|
