Third-grade teacher at Upper Merion elementary school groped student, police say
A girl told Upper Merion Police that Zachary Schettone groped her in 2021 as she sat on his lap in his classroom, according to court filings.
A third-grade teacher at an Upper Merion elementary school has been charged with groping one of his students inside his classroom, officials said Tuesday.
Zachary Schettone, 39, was charged with indecent assault, corruption of minors, and related crimes in connection with the incident, which took place in 2021 at Gulph Elementary School, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.
Attempts to reach Schettone were unsuccessful Tuesday. There was no indication he had hired an attorney.
The girl contacted police in July, saying that Schettone had touched her inappropriately in October 2021 during a celebration for her eighth birthday at the school, the affidavit said.
The girl had asked Schettone for help making origami “fortune tellers” and sat on his lap as he was seated at his desk, the document said.
After she sat down, she said, the teacher placed his hand on her thighs and rubbed them. She told police he then moved his hands closer to her groin and groped her above her clothing, according to the affidavit.
The girl told police she did not understand what was happening at the time and only later realized the significance of what had occurred.
District officials placed Schettone on leave in August, after police contacted them about the investigation, according to a statement from Upper Merion police. He has not worked at the school since.
Court records show Schettone taught at Gulph Elementary from 2003 until his suspension.