Chesco ESL Teacher Sexually Abused 3rd Grader: District Attorney

NOTTINGHAM, PA — A West Chester man who taught at a southern Chester County elementary school has been charged in connection with the sexual abuse of a student, the District Attorney's Office said today.

Luis Morales, 56, of West Chester, is charged in relation to the alleged sexual abuse of a student who was in third and fourth grades between 2014 and 2016 at Nottingham Elementary School in Oxford, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and Oxford Borough Police Department announced on Wednesday.

Morales is charged with multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault, institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, and related offenses, according to a report from the DA's Office.

Morales taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in the Oxford Area School District until 2016. He had been employed for the past five years in the Phoenixville Area School District but was suspended in June 2021, according to the report.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "Chester County is seeing an unacceptable wave of students who have been sexually abused in our elementary, middle, and high schools. It is imperative that we implement safeguards in our schools and any other place children are, to protect them from predators. Adults need to engage in oversight by watching out for children. Anyone who works with children has a legal obligation as a mandated reporter, but all adults have a moral responsibility to do the right thing to protect them. We must do better."

The criminal complaint against Morales states that in June 2021, a 14-year-old child reported being sexually abused by Morales, her ESL teacher, while she was a student at Nottingham Elementary School in Oxford between 2014 and 2016.

The victim told Oxford Borough Police that when she was in third grade, Morales asked her to stay after school, and then he proceeded to touch her chest and genitals. Morales allegedly continued to sexually abuse her regularly and, the report read, "engaged in penetration, however slight," while the victim was in the third and fourth grades.

The abuse stopped in 2016 when the student graduated from the fourth grade, the complaint said.

Phoenixville Area School District Responds

Phoenixville Area School District Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley sent a notice to parents and guardians in response to the District Attorney's announcement, explaining when Morales was hired in PASD, his background check came back clean.

Fegley wrote, "Earlier today, the Chester County DA's office announced the arrest of Luis Morales on charges of sexual abuse of a minor. The charges stem from when Mr. Morales worked in another school district approximately 8 years ago. When PASD hired Mr. Morales 5 years ago, it conducted the thorough background check as required by PA code. The background check was clean."

Fegley said PASD is in contact with the DA's office and will continue to work with the DA's office "to ensure a full and complete investigation of Mr. Morales’ time in the district."

"I know as a parent this sort of news is extremely difficult to hear. Please know the safety and protection of every one of our students is our top priority. To help us recognize the signs of child abuse and educate the community in the prevention of child abuse, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office is offering a free virtual training through the Stewards of Children program. As soon as we know the date and time of this training, we will inform the community on how to register for the program," the Superintendent said.

Fegley said counselors are available for students and the district encourages parents to talk with their children. Parents who want counseling for their child are asked to contact their building principal.

Fegley said if any concerns are raised by a child, parents should please contact Det. Sgt. Patrick Mark at 610-933-1180 extension 815 of the Phoenixville Police Department.

Bail for Morales was set by Magisterial District Judge Scott Massey at $350,000 and Morales was able to post the necessary 10 percent, according to the DA's report. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

Oxford Borough Police are investigating. Assistant District Attorney Christine Abatemarco is the assigned prosecutor. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Det. Christopher Coverly at 610-998-0032 ext. 302.

Anyone who suspects a child is being abused is asked to call Childline at 1-800-932-0313.

The Chester County District Attorney's Office urges all adults in the County to learn to recognize, react, and respond to child sexual abuse by signing up for a free virtual Stewards of Children workshop. Contact County Coordinator Katie Walters at kwalters@chesco.org or 610-344-6115.

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