Additional Charges Filed Against Tech School Teacher, After Third Victim Comes Forward

Keith Heffintrayer•

Stephen Andrew Catania, 28, of Souderton.

UPDATE: April 30, 12:10 p.m. – North Penn Now has learned that additional charges have been filed against Catania, after a third victim was uncovered during the ongoing investigation.

“There is a third victim,” said Towamencin Police Chief Tim Dickinson, when asked about the updated charges. “It is unknown if there are any others at this time.”

As the updated charges currently stand, Catania has been charged with three felony counts of communication with a minor-sexual abuse, and those charges have been increased from third degree to second degree felonies.

Additionally, Catania has been charged with three felony counts of criminal solicitation – knowingly or permitting a computer sex act involving a child, three misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors and three misdemeanor counts of harassment.

Catania was arraigned on the new charges this morning by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who increased his bail from five-percent of $10,000 to $20,000 cash. He was then sent back to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail.

His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on May 23 at 1 p.m. in front of Judge Levine.

Original story follows…

Wed., April 17, 2019, 1:50 p.m.

North Montco Tech School Teacher Solicited Students For Nude Photos: Police

A long-term substitute teacher at the North Montco Technical Career Center has been arrested on felony sexual abuse charges, in connection with an investigation by the Towamencin Township Police Department.

Stephen Andrew Catania, 28, of Souderton, has been charged with two felony counts of communication with a minor-sexual abuse and two counts of knowingly or permitting a computer sex act involving a child, as well as two misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors and two misdemeanor counts of harassment, as a result of the investigation.

According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to the North Montco Technical Career Center on Jan. 17 for a report of inappropriate communication between Catania and a 17-year-old female student. At that time, the student informed police that she had received inappropriate messages on Snapchat from the diesel technology long-term substitute teacher, identified as Catania.

The messages allegedly sent by Catania include:

• "So do you have a crush on me or not”

• "You got a nice f**king figure”

• "Send a pic”

• "Your underwear”

The report states that the student informed Catania that what he was doing was illegal, and Catania allegedly responded by asking her not to tell anyone. The following morning, the student received another Snapchat from Catania apologizing for the messages and offering to fix the brakes on her vehicle, according to the report.

Police conducted an interview with Catania later on the 17th, in which he allegedly admitted to using a Snapchat account but stated that he deleted it on Jan. 15, the report states. Catania reportedly denied any inappropriate communication with the victim, but later admitted that he may have said something inappropriate and asked for a picture, according to the report.

Then, on March 7, police were again dispatched to the North Montco Technical Career Center due to another female student stating that she had received social media communications from Catania. The second victim—also 17 years old—stated she had received texts on her cell phone and messages from Catania that made her feel uncomfortable, according to the report.

The second victim stated she trusted Catania and had confided in him when she was being bullied, according to the criminal complaint.

The report states that she began receiving messages from Catania during the summer of 2018, and at one point, Catania was confronted by the victim’s boyfriend after he requested a photo. Catania reportedly apologized several days later, according to the report.

Near the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, Catania again reached out to the second victim, asking if she wanted to "make an easy $100” for nude photos, the report states. The second victim ignored the messages, but was contacted by Catania yet again in January 2019, telling her to "delete everything,” including online messages, texts and his phone number, according to the criminal complaint.

The second victim complied with the request, the report states.

About five weeks later, the second victim allegedly received another message from Catania via Snapchat, but under a new account. The second victim reportedly asked Catania why he was no longer teaching at school, and if the rumors were true that he is a pedophile, to which Catania gave no explanation.

Police conducted a second interview with Catania on April 4, in which he allegedly admitted to creating a new Snapchat account. Catania also admitted to deleting students phone numbers and conversations around the time of his first interview with police in January, the report states. When questioned as to why he was communicating with the second victim, Catania reportedly stated that she was his "favorite student” and that he viewed her as more of a friend than a student.

Catania was arraigned on April 10 by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who set bail at 5% of $10,000 cash. He was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail.

His next scheduled court appearance is a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. on April 30 in front of Judge Levine.

School Official Responds

Gina Pardovich, the Administrative Director for North Montco Technical Career Center, has responded to North Penn Now's request for comment.

"North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC) has been working with Towamencin Police in regards to a former employee inappropriately contacting NMTCC students,” said Pardovich. “NMTCC officials initiated the investigation when they contacted police in January, after a student reported the information. During the investigation, the employee resigned from NMTCC.”

“Subsequently, we were notified by a student that the contact continued after the employee resigned,” Pardovich said. “Once again, NMTCC contacted Towamencin Police and they have been investigating the matter.”

Pardovich added that parents of the affected students were made aware of the situation, and added that she commended the school’s staff and students for reporting and acting upon the issue.

“NMTCC has cooperated fully with law enforcement agencies throughout this investigation, and will continue to do so,” said Pardovich. “We join with the police to emphasize the responsible use of technology, and to affirm the rights of all individuals to live and thrive in an environment free from harassment.”

(Editor's note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)