Richard Dean Russell (New Holland, Pennsylvania), 52, guidance counsellor at Landis Run Intermediate School, Mannheim Township School District, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, "one count of possessing child pornography" Lancaster Online: Former Manheim Township guidance counselor charged with possessing child pornography (Aug 5 2013) [Richard Dean Russell] was placed on administrative leave from the school district on Oct. 18, 2012, according to newspaper records. Authorities then would not say why the counselor was being investigated. School officials posted a brief notice on the Manheim Township website Thursday afternoon. Although the announcement says the district cannot discuss personnel issues, it links to a letter sent home to Landis Run parents last Nov. 6, a few weeks after Russell was placed on leave. The letter says the investigation involving Russell was "unrelated to his work" with the school district. ... In January 2012, the Manheim Township school board had honored Russell as the district's teacher of the month. Tags:
U.S. Department of Justice: Lancaster county man charged with possession of child pornography [Press Release] (Sept 6 2013) Richard Dean Russell, 52, of New Holland, PA, was charged today, by information, with possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment charges Russell with one count of possessing child pornography on October 17, 2012. If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years imprisonment. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Glenn.
Mannheim Township School District: District Statement on Newspaper Article (Sept 5 2013) We have had a few inquiries regarding a Lancaster Online news article concerning a former employee that was published this afternoon, Thursday, September 5. In response to the article, please click on the link below to view a letter that was sent home to Landis Run parents in November 2012.Click here to view letter [reproduced below] The district can not discuss personnel issues, however student safety is our main concern. The letter of November 6, 2012: November 6, 2012Dear Parent/Guardian:This letter is to confirm that the School District has placed Mr. Rich Russell, guidance counselor at Landis Run Intermediate School, on an administrative leave. On October 17, 2012, Mr. Russell contacted the School District regarding his role in an ongoing investigation concerning a personal legal matter unrelated to his work within the School District. Once we were informed by Mr. Russell of the investigation, and because of the nature of the disclosure made by Mr. Russell, the School District placed Mr. Russell on administrative leave effective October 18, 2012. As of this time, we have not been contacted by any outside agency concerning that investigation.While I am not able to discuss any further details regarding Mr. Russell’s status, I would like you to know that my decision to remove Mr. Russell from his School District responsibilities was immediate. Please know that we take student safety seriously in our school community and it is our continued goal to provide a safe environment for our students and open lines of communication for parents.Sincerely,(signed)Dr. Gene FreemanSuperintendent
ABC 27: Ex-guidance counselor charged in child porn case (Sept 6 2013) Richard Dean Russell, 52, of New Holland, was charged Thursday with one count of possessing child pornography on October 17, 2012, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
9 former educators named: Todd N. Sheerer, Warwick High School Robert A. Evans Jr, Elizabethtown Area High School Richard D. Russell, Landis Run Intermediate School Christina Layser, Reynolds Middle School Scott Rupp, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 Anthony B. Corl, Conestoga Valley High School John R. Erisman, Penn Manor High School Jeremy C. Pombo, Hempfield School District (only referenced in table below) Michael F. Truitt, Eastern Lancaster County School District (only referenced in table below) These 9 retired Lancaster County educators have received nearly $1.3M in pension benefits despite losing their teaching certificate Todd Sheerer: Todd Sheerer, a former teacher and band director at Warwick High School, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison for having sexual contact with a 15-year-old student. Robert Evans Jr.: Former Elizabethtown Area High School science teacher Robert Evans Jr. was sentenced to three to six years for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old and offering her $10,000 to not press charges. Richard Russell: Richard Russell, formerly a guidance counselor at Landis Run Intermediate School, was sentenced to 37 months for possessing child pornography. None of them are allowed to teach in Pennsylvania. All of them are collecting taxpayer-funded pensions. And they’re not alone. An LNP investigation found at least nine retired Lancaster County educators still collect pension benefits despite losing their teaching license due to serious allegations or criminal convictions. Using data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Public School Employees Retirement System, court records and newspaper archives, LNP found these retired educators have collected $1.3 million in pension benefits since 2003. ... Christina Layser: Among the nine, six were charged with a crime. Five pleaded guilty. One — Christina Layser, a former Reynolds Middle School math teacher — had her charges dropped after she participated in an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program. Three lost their certification over accusations — often sex-related — that never led to charges, despite school officials saying they contacted police. But losing a pension, LNP found, isn’t so easy. Pension forfeiture law: Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a bill that would strip pensions from state employees who plead guilty or no contest to, or are convicted of, felonies or crimes ... Scott Rupp: That’s good news for Scott Rupp. Rupp, a retired special education teacher at the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, allegedly asked a 17-year-old student on Facebook if she wanted to have a threesome with him and his wife, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. An IU13 spokeswoman said Columbia Borough police were contacted. No charges were filed. Anthony Corl & John Erisman: Similar situations involve Anthony Corl, a former English teacher who allegedly had sexual relationships with students at Conestoga Valley High School, and John Erisman, a former Penn Manor High School social studies teacher who allegedly made inappropriate contact with students. In both cases, according to newspaper records and comments from school officials, the police were notified. Again, no charges were filed. ‘You could argue loopholes ... exist’: Humma said new legislation isn’t merited so soon after DiSanto’s bill was passed. “But it’s always something that can be revisited,” he said. Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument of Landisville, a cosponsor of ... Continue reading... https://lancasteronline.com/news/lo...cle_bf6f9e92-0d6a-11ea-a8bf-8b9ef1618b7d.html
From here: Pensions of Lancaster County Educators Who Lost or Surrendered Their Teaching Licenses Educator Position School district Infraction Retirement date Monthly pension benefit Estimated Pension amount to date Anthony B. Corl English teacher Conestoga Valley Allegedly had sexual relationships with students; was not criminally charged. (2013) Oct., 2003 $1,220 $234,240 John R. Erisman Social studies teacher Penn Manor Allegedly made unprofessional comments to students and had inappropriate contact with students; was not criminally charged. (2011) June, 2014 $358 $22,912 Robert A. Evans, Jr. Science teacher Elizabethtown Area Pleaded guilty to aggravated indecent assault and intimidation of witnesses or victims. (2014) June, 2006 $3,665 $586,400 Christina Layser Math teacher Lancaster Charged with unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and indecent assault. Charges were dismissed after she entered Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program. (2012) April, 2015 $177 $9,558 Jeremy C. Pombo Social studies teacher Hempfield Pleaded guilty to third offense DUI and other traffic-related crimes. (2013) Nov., 2013 $156 $11,076 Scott M. Rupp Special education teacher IU13 Allegedly had inappropriate conversation with student on Facebook; was not criminally charged. (2013) Feb., 2013 $127 $10,160 Richard D. Russell Guidance counselor Manheim Township Pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. (2012) July, 2018 $2,984 $44,760 Todd N. Sheerer Band instructor Warwick Pleaded guilty to six counts of corruption of minors. (2008) Jan., 2009 $82 $10,578 Michael F. Truitt Music teacher Eastern Lancaster County Pleaded guilty to corruption of minors. (2007) June, 2006 $2,609 $417,440
