Alleged Cheltenham Sex Offender Waives Prelim

The man charged with institutional assault, indecent assault and corruption of a minor while working as an athlethic trainer contractor for Cheltenham High School, waived his prelminary hearing early this afternoon.

Ramon Luis Cintron, 29, of Philadelphia, waived the hearing following a 30-minute discussion with his attorney, Nino Tinari, in which Cintron listened to wire-tapped phone calls between him and a 14-year-old student. 

Cintron was arrested in April, one day after the phone calls.

Following the hearing, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Abby Silverman whisked the complainant and her family out of the courtroom so there would be no interaction with the defendant; Cintron hurried out the back door and was picked up in a white Nissan Altima with tinted glass.

Silverman and Cheltenham Detective Andrew Snyder said Cintron's expression was "very flat" while listening to the wire-tapped phone calls.

"There was a phone call, it was her to him, and then he called her back. It was recorded [and] there was enough on that phone call that after hearing it he and his defense counsel decided that any hearing would result in the charges going to county court," Abby Silverman said.

Silverman said there were two phone calls: a 2-minute call, and a 20-minute call. She said the calls were not sexually explicit, "but [the complainant] confronted him about what happened."

According to an April 17 letter posted on the school district's website, Cintron was contracted through Moss Rehabilitation. He is not a Cheltenham School District employee. Cintron does not appear to have any prior arrests.

The April 17 letter written by Cheltenham School District Superintendent Darlene Davis reads:

"It has been brought to our attention that authorities have made an arrest today of an individual who is currently contracted with our District. The adult in question is not an employee of the School District of Cheltenham Township, but does currently hold a contract for athletic training services with us through Moss Rehabilitation Center. The grounds for this arrest include alleged inappropriate contact with a female student from Cheltenham High School. As a school district, we strive to provide safe learning and social environments for all of our students. Needless to say, I am deeply saddened and concerned when such environments are compromised. Please know that we will fully support the police in their handling of this matter and will thoroughly support students who have been affected by these events."

Cintron allegedly sent several text messages to the victim after the incident apologizing for his behavior; he also urged the victim not to tell anyone, as he “could get locked up” for what he did.

The defendant, wearing a gray, pin-striped suit, arrived at District Court 38-1-03 about 30 minutes prior to his 1:30 p.m. preliminary trial ... and waited in vehicle for about 30 mintutes.  

Cintron is out on $100,000 bail; he will be formally arraigned July 18 at 9:30 a.m.

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