A former Valley High School music teacher who pleaded guilty in 2022 to sending sexually-themed text messages to two teenage students will remain in jail while he awaits a new sentencing hearing. Westmoreland County prosecutors said Sean Timothy O’Neil, 37, of North Apollo could face a potential state prison sentence
Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review
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New Kensington police have filed additional charges against a New Kensington-Arnold School District music teacher who was accused last week of sending sexual text messages to a student.
Police charged Sean Timothy O’Neil, 34, of Vandergrift, with corruption of minors and harassment in the latest case.
In a criminal complaint filed Wednesday, police said they were told April 30 that O’Neil made inappropriate comments in text messages and in person to a Valley Junior-Senior High School student in 2020.
A Valley High School teacher is accused of sending inappropriate sexual text messages to an underage student.
Police charged Sean Timothy O’Neil, 34, of North Apollo with felony counts of disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of harassment.
O’Neil was arraigned Thursday morning before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. and released after posting 10% of $20,000 bail.
O’Neil’s attorney, Brian D. Aston, could not be reached for comment.
New Kensington-Arnold Acting Superintendent Jon Banko said O’Neil was told not to return to the school and would not be in the classroom. Banko said he would be discussing O’Neil’s employment status with a district labor attorney Thursday evening.