Pennsylvania

Delco School Teacher Sentenced for Abusing Students

A Delaware County school teacher who sexually abused nine children was sentenced Tuesday.

Paul E. Hochschwender, 56, pleaded no contest to the charges in January and has already served seven months of his sentence. He also received 10 years probation and will be registered as a sexual predator for life.

Hochschwender, a former Darby Township school teacher, was accused of abusing second grade students' during the 2013-2014 school year, touching their chests, buttocks, legs and vaginal areas.

Similar reports of abuse were made by students and families against Hochschwender at another Delaware County school between 1993 and 2000. The teacher was also accused of abusing children in 2006-2007 and 2011-2012 at the Darby Township Elementary School.

Hochschwender was first arrested in March of 2014 and was arrested a second and third time in April and May of that year after more accusers came forward.

In February the families of two of the victims filed a lawsuit, claiming school administrators failed to protect their kids from Hochschwender.

The lawsuit was filed against Hochschwender,  the Southeast Delco School District, former Darby Township Elementary School Principal Michael A.P. Jordan, Southeast Delco School District Superintendent Stephen D. Butz and Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Ryan.

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