Former Murray Ave. Vice Principal Charles Hurst Denied Bail On Corruption of Minors Charges

It looks like Charles Hurst won’t be sending out more text messages anytime soon.

The former Murray Avenue vice principal was denied bail Wednesday while he appeals the 2 ½-5-year state prison sentence he was given for two corruption of minors charges stemming from an incident at the North Penn School District where he sent inappropriate text messages to teenage boys.

Hurst, 37, turned himself in to authorities on May 20, but he remained at the county prison until a ruling on his bail request could be heard. The defense was denied post-trial motions for a lesser county sentence as well by Philadelphia Senior Judge John L. Braxton.

Hurst’s defense attorney George Griffith argued that Hurst was a good candidate for bail and he did pose any flight risk. Griffith described his client as a “deer caught in the headlights” because Hurst doesn’t realize the severity of his actions and is still trying to find a way out of trouble. Griffith added his team will file a motion to the state Superior Court for a lesser sentence.

Hurst was originally hired at the Lower Moreland School District on July, 1, 2010. The charges against Hurst stem from his time at the Penn Brook Middle School between January '09-August '10.

Read Lower Moreland’s response to the unfortunate incident.