Teacher accused of having sex with student waives hearing
A middle school teacher accused of having sex with a former student waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. on Wednesday. The attorney for Donald James Rosie said he waived the preliminary hearing on the lone charge of corruption of a minor in the interest of the alleged victim.
“We don’t want to cause any further disruption in the life of the victim,” attorney Samuel Davis said.
Rosie, 55, of South Union Township allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old former student in the Albert Gallatin Area School District, who reported it to police on June 28. Police said Rosie taught the girl in sixth grade, and by November 2005, the two became friends.
The two first had sex in March, police alleged, and then had four or five additional encounters in his vehicle at his Clinton Road home in Uniontown.
An attorney for the alleged victim’s family said he would oppose Rosie being admitted to a pretrial diversionary program that would expunge his criminal record. District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said admission to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program will not be offered in the case.
Thomas W. Shaffer also said that the family plans to file a civil lawsuit against Rosie and the Albert Gallatin Area School District.
School district solicitor Lee Price said Wednesday that Rosie is not being permitted to report to school at least until criminal and employment proceedings have been concluded.