Monongahela teacher charged with sexual offense against student
A second Fayette County schoolteacher is facing charges of having a sexual relationship with a student.
Daniel Cervone, 50, of Monongahela, served as an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at Laurel Highlands High School in Fayette County, according to the district’s website.
On Monday, a former student reported to state police she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Cervone between September 2019 and July 2020, when she was 15 and 16.
In that span, the two would frequently kiss in Cervone’s office, according to the criminal complaint. The two had sexual intercourse once during her sophomore year in February or March of 2020, she told police.
Cervone was taken into custody at the school Tuesday morning. According to court paperwork, he confessed to the allegations when interviewed by state police.
Cervone is charged with sexual contact with a student, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor.
He was lodged in the Fayette County jail after being unable to pay $20,000 bail. The court stipulated Cervone must also pay the costs of electronic home monitoring.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 7.
He is the second Laurel Highlands teacher to be charged with sexual offenses against a student in the past week.
Former social studies teacher Martin Gatti faces similar charges after being accused of repeatedly asking a female student to kiss him and make other advances. He was placed on administrative leave during the investigation and later fired.
The incident against Cervone was separate from the Gatti case, said Trooper Kalee Barnhart.
In a statement posted on the district’s website, Superintendent Jesse Wallace said the district had learned of the allegations against Cervone Tuesday, and continues to cooperate with authorities in both cases.
“The District takes the safety and welfare of our students as the highest priority,” he said. “We have and continue to take all steps necessary to fully train and inform our staff on appropriate staff/student boundaries and relationships. However, this does not lighten the sting of episodes currently under investigation. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with those who are victims in these situations.”
State police is encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Uniontown Barracks at 724-439-7111.