Delco teacher who had sex with teen gets jail

A former Delaware County teacher convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old student who came to him for help was sentenced Wednesday to 11 months to two years in the county jail.

William Barber, 39, of Glen Mills, a physical education and health teacher and football coach at Garnet Valley Middle School when the incident occurred in September 2014, also received 22 years' probation.

Charges against Barber, a father of four, included statutory sexual assault and corruption of a minor.

The victim, now 16 and a high school junior, confided in Barber about problems she was having at home. He invited her to his school office, where they had sex, said Michael Galantino, the deputy district attorney

Defense attorney Michael Malloy asked Judge Richard M. Cappelli to consider that Barber's 5-year-old daughter had terminal cancer.

A longer sentence at a state prison would have made Barber ineligible for a furlough if his daughter took a turn for the worse.

"The past 21/2 years for our family has truly been a living hell," Barber's wife, Kelly, said.

In addition to her daughter's illness, Barber has lost his job and will never again be able to work with children. In addition, he is involved in a custody dispute over children from a previous marriage.

"I cannot do this on my own," Kelly Barber said. "I need him at home."

Galantino said Barber was using his sick daughter as a shield. Barber had lured the victim with text messages asking for nude photos and had texted a second student as well, Galantino said.

"He raped her," the victim's grandmother said. She called Barber a "dangerous sexual predator" and asked for a tough sentence.

Since the incident, the teen, who is in counseling, has had nightmares, struggles with depression, and suicidal thoughts, the grandmother said.

Barber apologized in court to the victim, her family, and his family and friends.

"My behavior was unacceptable and inappropriate," he said. "None of this is [the victim's] fault, and I hope she understands this."

Cappelli said the victim was heroic in coming forward. "In my opinion . . . if it had not been for her coming forward, there would have been other victims."

Cappelli said he imposed a long probation sentence because he questioned Barber's commitment to psychological treatment he was receiving.

"We don't trust you," he said.