United States: A school principal in Pennsylvania has been detained and accused of having a year-long sexual relationship with a student, who has trusted the administrator “Like an older brother,” authorities mentioned on Friday.
The police state and prosecutors earlier this week made the announcement of the arrest of Roger Weaver Freed, 34-year-old, and he has since been released on $175,000 bail, state Trooper Lauren Lesher stated.
He has been charged with alleged sexual contact with a student, a minor’s corruption, furnishing a minor’s liquor, sexual assault, as well as aggravated assault without consent. The victim, now college-aged, has not been identified by authorities.
On Friday, Freed was still listed as a principal at Williamsport Area High School, about 90 miles west of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg as well as 7 miles west of the famed baseball complex.
Moreover, publicly listed phone numbers for Freed appeared to be disconnected. Lesher did not immediately know if Freed had hired an attorney.
A representative for the Williamsport Area School District had not replied to messages seeking comment on Friday morning.
“Between late 2015 & April 2022, freed, engaged in a sexual relationship” with the student that lasted into the victim’s college tenure, as per a criminal complaint written by state Trooper Matthew Miller.
Along with this, the two became close when the victim’s brother succumbed to brain cancer as the youngster eventually “Trusted Freed’ like an older brother,’ said Miller in the statement.
The victim stated that he spent considerable one-on-one time with Freed believing they were ‘ bros’ & could talk about anything, especially (the boy’s) sexuality,” as per the complaint.
During one sexual encounter in the spring or summer of 2017, Freed said to the teen, “you promise not to tell anybody because I could lose my job over this,” Miller noted.
Along with this, the complaint highlighted that the Freed continued to have sex with the student even following his graduation from high school in 2018.
Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan mentioned in the statement, “The abuse began when the child was approximately sixteen years of age.”
“The arrest of Roger Freed should act as a reminder that regardless of status or influence, the voices of abused young ones will not fall on deaf ears by any Lycoming County Law Enforcement Agency.”
