Jesse Oberto
Credit: Newtown police
A former Council Rock North High School teacher has been arrested on charges he had a sexual relationship with a student.
Jesse Vincent Oberto, 37, of Conshohocken, Montgomery County, was arraigned Thursday on charges of institutional sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of a minor.
Newtown Township police said they received a referral from Bucks County Children and Youth that a student had a sexual relationship with a teacher at the high school.
Detectives began an investigation and allege Oberto “engaged in a sexual relationship and had inappropriate communications with a 16-year-old female student,” police said.
In a statement, the Council Rock School District said Oberto worked in the district from 2003 until September 2015.
It was not immediately clear why Oberto’s employment with the district ended, but a LinkedIn profile appearing to belong to the 37 year old stated he moved on to a job in sales.
Oberto was listed in district documents as a math teacher.
“The District was not notified of or aware of the alleged relationship between Mr. Oberto and our student until June of this year when the authorities requested the District’s cooperation with the investigation. Council Rock has cooperated fully with local police and will continue to do so. Our students’ safety and welfare is our highest priority and we are shocked and disturbed to learn of these allegations,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Fraser said in a statement.
Oberto, according to court dockets, does not have a previous criminal record in Pennsylvania.
Fraser said all district employees undergo state and federal background checks and child abuse clearances.
“We believe that our current policies and procedures are designed to prevent harm to students and to enable swift action when we learn that there has been a violation of law, policy or ethical obligation,” Fraser said.
Oberto was arraigned at 11:30 a.m. Thursday before District Judge Mick Petrucci and released on $100,000 unsecured bail.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
