A former teacher at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington is facing felony sex abuse charges, after investigators alleged that he had engaged in an 18-month sexual relationship with one of his high school students.
Michael Cheatle, 37, of Chester Springs, has been charged with institutional sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the investigation by the Whitemarsh Township Police Department.
According to the release, police were contacted by the victim on July 29, who stated that in 2014, at the end of her 11th grade year at Germantown Academy, she began an 18-month-long intimate relationship with her teacher, identified as Cheatle. Police said they immediately launched an investigation, which determined through text messages, emails and other evidence that Cheatle had allegedly engaged in sexual activity with the victim.
The release states that Cheatle resigned from his position on Sept. 1, 2020, and the school has been fully cooperative with the investigation.
Cheatle was arraigned on the charges early Thursday morning by Magisterial District Judge Deborah Lukens, who set bail at $100,000 unsecured with the stipulation with Cheatle avoid any contact with children that are not his own. Cheatle was then released from custody, and his next court appearance Is a preliminary hearing on Oct. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in front of Judge Lukens.
Anyone with information regarding inappropriate encounters with Cheatle is encouraged to contact the Whitemarsh Township Police Department at 610-825-6530.
(All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.)
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