Another Delaware teacher accused of sex with student

Delaware State Police say the teacher’s relationship with the 17-year-old female Glasgow High School student started at the beginning of the school year last September.

30-year-old Matthew Pleasanton of Middletown is facing charges including continuous sexual abuse of a child in connection with his relationship with the girl.  Police say Glasgow High administrators notified them of the relationship between teacher and student in January.  Police then conducted an investigation and learned the relationship stretched back to the beginning of the ’11-’12 school year.

Pleasanton is facing 21 charges including sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust.  He’s been released from custody after posting $112,500 secured bond.

There’s been a string of teachers charged for sexual relationships with students in the state this school year.  Last  month, a 38-year-old teacher at Sussex Tech High School, Charles Coursey, was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.  In September, a substitute teacher was arrested for showing a 15-year-old student naked pictures of herself on a cellphone.  Meagan Gordon of Bridgeville was charged with providing obscene material to a minor.

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The trend has prompted State House Minority Leader Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley) to call for a bipartisan effort to address the problem.  “There have been more than a dozen Delaware teachers charged in connection with alleged instances of sexual misconduct over the last five years,” Lavelle said.  He’s requested a meeting with Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden to create a strategy to reduce this type of crime.  “As both a parent and a public servant, I find this disturbing on many levels.”

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