A detective with the Towamencin Township Police Department was recently presented with a commendation for her investigation into a substitute teacher at the North Montco Technical Career Center who had been making inappropriate contact with students.
Det. Jamie Pierluisse was recognized on March 24 during the Towamencin Board of Supervisors meeting for her efforts to investigate 30-year-old Stephen Catania, of Souderton, for soliciting nude photos from three female students while working at the tech school during the 2018-2019 school year. Pierluisse began the investigation in January 2019 with a single victim, however Pierluisse made contact with a second victim in March 2019 and a third victim came forward after North Penn Now broke the story on April 17, 2019.
In February, Catania was found guilty of three felony counts of criminal solicitation - knowingly or permitting a computer sex act involving a child and three misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors following a bench trial in front of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Branca on Jan. 28.
Sentencing was deferred at that time so the court could conduct a pre-sentencing investigation. Catania is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks.
“Through her dedication and exemplary investigative skills, a predator was removed, improving the safety of North Penn area schools and the Towamencin community,” said the police department. “Well done, Jamie!”
See also:
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