By Martha Woodall
Inquirer Staff Writer
A former administrator of a Catholic girls' high school who allegedly sexually assaulted a student at the school during the 2006-07 academic year has been arrested, officials said yesterday.
Scott J. Healey, 27, a former director of institutional advancement at St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls in Holmesburg, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and corrupting the morals of a minor in connection with a series of after-school encounters with a student from January to August in 2007.
The young woman, who is now 17, made a report to school officials and police on Feb. 8 alleging that she had been sexually assaulted by Healey at the school after she turned 16.
Healey, whose job involved fund-raising and recruitment, was arrested after he surrendered Monday to the police department's Special Victims Unit. He was accompanied by his attorney, Fortunato N. Perri Jr.
"We are still reviewing the substance of the allegations," Perri said yesterday. "He has vehemently denied all the charges."
Healey, who lives in the 1000 block of North Orianna Street in the city's Northern Liberties section, has been released on bail and could not be reached for comment. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next Wednesday.
He had been working this academic year as the director of institutional advancement at his alma mater, Northeast Catholic High School.
Donna Farrell, communications director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said Healey was not working at a school at the time of his arrest. She said he was placed on administrative leave as soon as the allegations were made early last month.
"We called police and put him on leave," Farrell said.
She said Healey's position was terminated Monday upon his arrest.
Letters were sent to parents at both St. Hubert and Northeast Catholic on Monday reporting the allegations and Healey's arrest and providing information about available victim assistance services.
"We conveyed to them that the safety and well-being of their children is our primary concern," Farrell said.
She said Healey began working at St. Hubert as the director of institutional advancement in October 2006 and remained until August, when he applied for the same position at Northeast Catholic. She said he had been at Northeast Catholic since September.
Capt. John Darby of the Special Victims Unit said Healey had no prior record.
Both Darby and Farrell declined to say whether the young woman making the allegations is still a student St. Hubert.
"We are trying to protect that person's privacy," Farrell said. "It takes a lot of courage for a young person to come forward."
|
