Indecent assault of a person under the age of sixteen, institutional sexual assault, and corruption of juveniles are the charges against Kelly Ann Schutte, 35, of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.
A woman initiated the inquiry on July 18, 2023, by contacting the Upper Perk Police Department located in Pennsburg. The woman reported that her 14-year-old son had disclosed to her that he was in a sexual and romantic relationship with Pennridge South Middle School guidance counselor Schutte.
The young man reportedly informed his parents in a frenzy on the evening of July 17 that he required transportation from Schutte’s residence, as stated in the criminal complaint. According to police, the boy’s parents arrived at the location and discovered him concealed behind a stationary vehicle. One of Schutte’s family members, according to the child, observed him and Schutte caressing inside her residence. The family member then entered the residence indignantly and ordered the boy to leave, as reported by investigators. According to police, the adolescent fled the residence in fear and concealed on a nearby street before calling his parents and disclosing his relationship with Schutte.
The adolescent stated in an interview with police on July 19 that he had been in regular contact with Schutte since the fall of 2022, following a school trip on which the two students shared a bus seat. The lad stated that he was frequently summoned to Schutte’s office and occasionally absent from class for the remainder of the academic year. According to the youth, he and Schutte engaged in sexual activity on multiple occasions in June and July 2023 in both Montgomery and Bucks counties.
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Alleged Inappropriate Conduct with Student Revealed in Investigation
The adolescent further stated that he and Schutte engaged in communication via Snapchat and the messaging application “Canvas” provided by the school district.
Police discovered communications between the boy and Schutte, as well as photographs of the two of them at her residence in Pennsburg, while rummaging through his cellphone, according to the criminal complaint. In addition, communications between Schutte and the boy were allegedly obtained on Canvas, and the teen’s statements were corroborated by handwritten notes, according to the investigators.
According to the police, surveillance footage they obtained shows Schutte and the adolescent together at a Pennsburg supermarket, where she purchased a bottle of wine.
Midway through June, police say Schutte sexually assaulted the adolescent at his Bucks County residence while his family was abroad. Investigators reported discovering Schutte’s earring within the residence as well.
On Thursday, charges were lodged against Schutte in the wake of the investigation. Pennridge School District Superintendent Angelo Berrios III informed the community in a letter that the district was cognizant of the allegations levied against Schutte in July and promptly instituted an administrative leave for her while the investigation concluded. At this time, Schutte is not permitted to access Pennridge School District facilities or interact with its personnel or students. Furthermore, the district is cooperating with the District Attorney’s Office, according to Berrios.
On Friday, Schutte appeared in court and posted $25,000 in unsecured bond. When NBC10 contacted Schutte’s counsel, he declined to comment.
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