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Ex-Trinity teacher charged with rape

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A former Trinity High School special education teacher was arrested Thursday for the rape and sexual assault of two girls.

Thomas F. Kelley, 46, of San Antonio, Texas, was arraigned Thursday before District Justice Curtis Thompson and placed in Washington County jail on $250,000 bond.

According to the criminal complaint, the incidents occurred between January 1996 and August 2011 at a home in Somerset Township and other locations in Washington County. The girls were not students at the high school.

One of the girls told police she was sexually assaulted and raped from the time she was 3 years old until she was 18 years old.

Another girl allegedly was raped when she was 6 years old.

Kelley was charged with rape, rape of a person less than 13, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, unlawful contact or communication with a minor and other charges.

Kelley’s employment with the district ended in 2010, and according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, he surrendered his teaching license in lieu of discipline the same year.

Trinity Superintendent Michael Lucas declined to comment on Friday.

After leaving Trinity, Kelley worked in the gas industry in Washington before moving to Texas to work for a fracking company.

The criminal complaint was filed Oct. 26. State police said Kelley was working in San Antonio and made arrangements to return to Pennsylvania and turn himself in.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20 before Thompson.

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