Uniontown police, school district dispel sex allegations
Uniontown Area School District Superintendent Dr. Charles Machesky and Uniontown police Chief Jason A. Cox held a joint press conference Tuesday to dispel rumors that an employee of the school district had an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Cox said he learned of allegations and immediately began investigating the matter.
“We take all such allegations seriously,” Cox said. “In this case, after extensive investigation into the allegations, we have determined that this claim is unfounded and nothing more than a rumor.”
Machesky said the rumor has been circulating for about two months through the community as well as on social media by several students in the district that a district employee was engaged in a inappropriate relationship with a student.
He said the district’s solicitor, Sam Davis, of Davis and Davis Attorneys at Law, received a letter about three weeks ago from the teachers union asking district officials how they intend to stop the rumors and that one of their employees was being harassed by a student’s parent.
Machesky said several students involved in the matter who had contacted one another through social media were questioned at school by Uniontown police Officer Michael C. Garrow Sr., who is the department’s school resource officer, and high school principal Bob Manges.
“As a result of talking with several students, it’s been determined, based on the officer’s investigation, that there is no truth to this rumor,” Machesky said. “I support, have supported and will continue to support our professional staff member.”
While some parents were upset that their children were questioned without their presence, Cox said principals have the authority to act as “In Loco Parentis” while the child is in school. He said that from his department’s standpoint the matter has been fully vetted and has been closed as an unfounded complaint.
“It is a viscous rumor, which I believe was perpetrated by an unidentified individual whom I believe has a vendetta against our employee,” Machesky said. “This matter is at rest unless a formal complaint is filed. I intend to pursue this matter to trace down the start of this horrible rumor…Never once has a student or parent or staff member come to any of us with a complaint. This is ridiculous. Schools get a bad enough image as it is without this unsubstantiated nonsense.”