Teacher seeks dismissal of charges of intimidating student
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A Western Pennsylvania teacher is seeking dismissal of charges that he intimidated a student who alleged that another teacher had sex with her
Drew Zoldak, 40, of New Kensington is charged in Allegheny County with witness intimidation. He is on unpaid leave from his Plum school district position.
Two other Plum teachers, Joseph Ruggieri and Jason Cooper, are accused of having sex with students.
Prosecutors allege that Zoldak singled out a student in class who had accused Ruggieri of institutional sexual assault.
Defense attorney Alexander Lindsay said Friday that a number of other students don’t remember Zoldak making any reference to the girl.
Lindsay said that indicates prosecutors lack the evidence to win the case, and both charges of witness intimidation should be thrown out.