A former State College High School computer technology teacher has been found guilty in a one-day jury trial for attempted child sexual abuse, unlawful contact with a minor, and other related charges.
Wesley Amy, 28 of Bellefonte, worked at the high school from Oct. 2013 to May 2014, targeting three female children during his employment and soliciting them for nude photographs.
According to a press release from the district attorney’s office, Amy friended the victims on Facebook and “began his grooming process early by initiating private Facebook conversations at all hours of the day and night with them; even when they were in school.”
The release said that Amy tried to endear himself to the children, discussing cartoons and inviting them to events that were not sanctioned by the school district.
“He knowingly isolated the youngest child victim and held a private Facebook discussion about pornography,” the release said. “He knowingly disseminated a pornographic image of a teenager performing oral sex on an adult male, recommended a pornographic anime series, and even inquired about her sex life, asking whether she had engaged in sexual intercourse with another student or teacher.”
Amy then began soliciting the victims for nude photographs, and when they refused to do so, he tried to incentivize them with promises of increased grades. “You can get an A or B, but you have to motivate me to give you that grade,” he said via Facebook chat.
He also solicited the oldest of the three victims in person, urging her to join his class despite her not having the proper prerequisites. In April 2014, he handed her a flash drive labeled “Plan B” and told her that he would give her a 100 percent grade on her final project if she put nude photos on and returned it to him.
“The minor, trying to believe the best in an adult teacher, thought he must be joking,” the release said. “So in response, she placed a silly photograph of a unicorn on the flash drive and turned it in to Amy.”
Amy became angry and gave it back to the student, telling her in a stern voice to “fix it.” She disclosed her experiences to a friend once she realized he wasn’t joking regarding his solicitations, and that friend notified his mother, who told the school district and State College Police.
Amy was found guilty on one second degree felony count of attempted sexual abuse of children, one third degree felony count of unlawful contact with a minor, one third degree felony account of disseminating sexual material to minors, and three misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors.
He will be sentenced before judge Jonathan Grine on Dec. 10, and will be required to register as a sex offender for the next 25 years.
“Children should feel safe at school,” district attorney Stacy Parks Miller said. “These girls were very brave for speaking out and for testifying. We will seek an appropriate sentence for this egregious breach of trust by a teacher who was entrusted with our children.”
