Montgomery County Teacher Charged With Abuse

A longtime Montgomery Elementary School teacher and North Penn School District wrestling coach was arrested in late September and charged with sexually assaulting three boys. His father has since spoken publicly in his defense. Families across Montgomery County have questions about what happened and what protections the law provides.

What Police Say Happened

Jason Theodore, 54, was arrested on a Friday night and remains in the Montgomery County prison without bail. According to court documents reported by NBC10 Philadelphia, investigators allege he met the boys online, supplied them with drugs and alcohol, and engaged in sex acts with them. Some of the alleged conduct took place at his North Wales home. One of the three is a former student.

The investigation began on September 9, when the first teenager came forward. That report led police to two more boys. Investigators also want to know more about children he encountered through youth hockey.

A Father’s Defense and Why It Matters

Mike Theodore traveled from Florida after the arrest and told reporters his son “made a mistake.” He also said he did not believe children from the district were affected, then acknowledged that belief rested on what his son had told him.

Statements like these are common. They are also one reason survivors stay silent. When a trusted adult’s family or community insists the harm was isolated, a child learns that speaking up invites doubt. The abuse of young boys goes underreported for exactly this reason.

Duties Schools and Youth Programs Carry

Mandated Reporting

Under Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, school employees are mandated reporters. They must report suspected abuse directly to ChildLine when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim, and first-hand observation of the abuse is not required.

That duty does not stop with the accused. It extends to colleagues, administrators, and coaching staff who noticed warning signs and said nothing.

Institutional Accountability

A criminal case addresses the individual. A civil claim can address the institution. Schools, athletic leagues, and youth organizations owe a duty of reasonable care in hiring, supervising, and responding to complaints, and institutional child abuse claims examine whether that duty was met.

A civil investigation typically asks:

• What clearances were completed, and when were they renewed
• Whether anyone raised concerns about contact with students outside school
• Whether the district and hockey organizations shared information about his conduct
• How quickly the district acted once the first report reached police

We have seen how a school that ignored student complaints can be held to answer for the harm that followed.

Abuse within athletic programs raises its own supervision problems, since travel, locker rooms, and one-on-one training create access that classrooms do not.

Time Limits for Survivors in Pennsylvania

Act 87 of 2019 gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse until age 55 to file a civil lawsuit for abuse that occurred after the law took effect. Even so, evidence fades, witnesses move, and records get purged, so earlier action generally produces a stronger case.

Families should also know that investigators can fail survivors when a report is mishandled, and a civil attorney can preserve evidence independently of the criminal process.

A Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer can review the facts, identify every responsible party, and file within the applicable deadline.

If your child had contact with this teacher or coach through school, wrestling, or local hockey, speak with someone outside the circle of the accused. The attorneys at KBD Attorneys represent survivors and their families throughout the state, and a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer on our team is ready to discuss your options.