Hanover Area teacher charged with sex assault of student

by: James Halpin

A Hanover Area School District teacher counseling a high school student about a health issue is charged with bringing the teen home and sexually assaulting him.

Edward Evans, 33, of 528 Main Road, Hanover Township, is facing two counts of institutional sexual assault in connection with an incident in March.

Police say Evans, a high school social studies teacher, was providing guidance and counseling to the 18-year-old student in March, when the incident is alleged to have occurred.

The Citizens’ Voice does not identify alleged victims of sexual assaults.

The teen reported he had been talking to Evans about his health, and that they had exchanged numbers in the past, according to a police affidavit. On Sunday, March 10, Evans picked the teen up from his house and brought him to Evans’ home, police said.

Evans showed the teen some paperwork, then began kissing him while they were in the bedroom, the affidavit says.

The teen told police he kissed Evans back and they performed sex acts on each other, police said.

Evans told the teen not to tell anyone what they did, and drove him home, according to the affidavit.

When police questioned Evans about the incident, he acknowledged providing the teen guidance at school for several months, and that the teen had asked for information on a health issue.

He told police he had exchanged numbers with the teen so he could help him with information, the affidavit says. He claimed the teen called him on March 10 asking for information, so Evans picked him up and drove him to his house to give him the information, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit says Evans told investigators he gave the teen the information and brought him back home after only being there a short time. It does not address whether Evans admitted or denied the sexual encounter. Hanover Township Police Chief Albert Walker declined to comment on whether Evans admitted the conduct, saying the case would play out in court.

Addressing why it took so long to bring charges, Walker said “investigations take as long as necessary.”

Magisterial District Judge Joseph Halesey arraigned Evans on Tuesday morning and released him on $20,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m.

Evans’ status with the district was not immediately clear. Superintendent Andrew Kuhl did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Walker said police are investigating whether there may be more victims, although police didn’t have specific information that there were.

“It’s always possible,” Walker said.

Source: citizensvoice