Child-porn charges likely for ex-teacher

The former Chester County teacher and camp director arrested on child-pornography charges in August will soon face a federal indictment, the Delaware County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday.

David Devine, 34, of Upper Providence, a former first-grade teacher at Penn Wood Elementary School in the West Chester Area School District, was charged with 500 counts of possessing child pornography in August.

"This man put himself in situations with unfettered access to children," said Joseph P. Lesniak, an assistant district attorney. Lesniak said Devine could be indicted on federal charges as early as next week. Federal charges typically carry more jail time, he said.

Patty Hartman, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said officials there "do not comment on cases that we haven't charged."

Joseph Fioravanti, Devine's attorney, declined to comment.

Shortly after his arrest, Devine, who is single, was released on electronic home monitoring to a relative's house. As part of his bail conditions, he may not have contact with minors or use the Internet or a computer.

In April, investigators with the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Media received two "cyber tips" involving Devine's Yahoo account. According to police, he confessed to possessing child pornography. Prosecutors said it appeared he downloaded the pornography from the Internet.

Devine, who was also the director of Camp Flying Hawk, had recently purchased a house across the street from an Upper Providence school.

The day camp, which did not have a physical location, shuttled children in grades two through five to activities at swim clubs and parks. A website promised a 6-1 camper-to-staff ratio and door-to-door pickup and drop-off.

None of the children Devine came in contact with at the school or the camp was found to be in the photos, according to officials.

West Chester district officials met with parents over the summer to update them.

"He will not be working for us ever again," said Superintendent Jim Scanlon, who said he was told recently that new charges were forthcoming. Devine was terminated in September, he said.

Devine started at the school in December 2008 after passing three background checks, two by the state and one by the FBI.

Scanlon said that Devine was well liked at the school and that parents, children, and teachers were shocked by the allegations.

"What he did was absolutely wrong," Scanlon said.