Teacher at Chester County Private School Arrested in Alleged Sexual Abuse

A former social studies teacher at the Phelps School in Malvern has been arrested for an alleged sexual assault against a former student of the all-male school, according to a statement from the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

Matthew Scavitto, 31, faces charges of institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, unlawful contact with a minor, and endangering the welfare of children. The victim attended the Phelps School as a full time boarding student at the time of the alleged assaults. The school fired Scavitto immediately following his arrest on Wednesday, the DA reports.

According to the DA, the Willistown Police Department interviewed a victim on Tuesday who claimed he was sexually abused while a full-time boarding student at the Phelps School.

The victim told police that he became very good friends with Scavitto, who was a teacher, the victim’s coach, and a dorm supervisor. According to the report, in the beginning of May 2013, Scavitto allegedly began to sexually assault the 17-year-old victim.

Police say the abuse continued through the summer of 2013 while both were at a camp in New Hampshire and throughout the victim’s senior year at the Phelps School. The victim reported that Scavitto would communicate via cell phone and text messages and would use code words referencing sexual activity.

The victim was also instructed by Scavitto to erase all text messages immediately after the conversations, according to police.

The defendant is incarcerated at Chester County Prison on $250,000 bail.

This case was investigated by the Willistown Police Department. Anyone with further information should contact Willistown Police Detective Sergeant Jeff Heim at (610) 251-0222.