UPDATE: Ryan Monaghan was found not guilty in Dec. 2010 on all counts of molestation and he denied that he touched the accuser inappropriately.
Here is the original story as it was posted in May 2010.
Former East Coventry Elementary School principal Ryan T. Monaghan was arrested Tuesday after being accused of the indecent assault of a first grader who is now 14 years old, officials say.
The alleged incident in which 36-year-old Monaghan inappropriately touched a female first grade student he was tutoring occurred eight years ago when Monaghan was a teacher at Vincent Elementary School in Chester County, authorities say.
Parents of students at East Coventry Elementary School received an e-mail Wednesday from district superintendent Joel DiBartolomeo, stating that a member of the staff was “charged with inappropriate conduct” and has been placed on administrative leave until an investigation into the allegations is complete.
Monaghan served as principal beginning in 2006 but was recently named supervisor of instruction and language arts curriculum coordinator, according to the district's website.
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“I speak for all of us here at Owen J. Roberts School District when I say that we are surprised by these developments,” DiBartolomeo writes.
Police arrested Monaghan on charges of indecent assault, according to the Pottstown Mercury.
“I hope it’s not true, I hope they find that it’s not true, because he’s a really nice guy,” parent Beth Runfola told NBC Philadelphia.
Monaghan posted $25,000 bail and remains free pending his preliminary hearing.
