Ex-Teacher Sentenced In Sexual Assault Of Teen In Chesco

WEST CHESTER, PA — A former teacher in a fine arts charter school was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison for having sexual relations with a 17-year-old student in 2019.

Seth Reich, 42, of Downingtown, was convicted in May of sexual assault, corruption of minors, indecent assault, and furnishing liquor to minors.

He was acquitted of charges of having sexual relations with another victim. The jury in the trial before Judge Analisa Sondergaard deliberated for seven hours.

The offense occurred while Reich was a teacher at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School for Performing Arts, in West Chester.

The victim, now 22, reported to West Goshen police that she had been in a sexual relationship with the defendant, her acting teacher when she was 17.

Reich apologized to the victims during the sentencing hearing on Monday.

Reich’s lawyer, James A. Funt, Philadelphia, asked for leniency, saying his client has taken responsibility for his actions.

According to the police:

The victim was in Reich's acting class when they exchanged phone numbers in March 2019.

The victim told police, that they texted, frequently ate lunch together, and he gave her private acting lessons.

In May 2019, the victim said, the sexual relationship began and continued until March 2021, when the two had consensual sex more than 100 times in various locations.