Thursday, March 5, 2020

Orwigsburg Woman Charged for Sexual Assault of 15 Year Old at Hamburg Area

An Orwigsburg woman who worked as a paraprofessional at Hamburg Area has been charged with sexual assault of a student.

According to the Berks County District Attorney's office, on February 13, 2020, Detectives received a Childline Referral from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Human Services, which reported that a school staff member had inappropriate physical contact with a 15 year-old male Hamburg Area High School student.

The suspect was employed as a paraprofessional at Hamburg Area High School which is located at 701 Windsor Street, Hamburg, Berks County, Pennsylvania since November 19, 2019.

Detectives interviewed the victim and he disclosed that one of his teachers, identified as Krista Stump, of Orwigsburg, had “come onto” him in a classroom. Stump also requested that the victim add her to his Snapchat account. The victim hesitantly agreed and subsequently started to receive text messages from her.

The victim described the incoming text messages from Stump as “weird” and “sexual.” In addition to the text messages, Stump sent the victim nude images of herself. The victim said this went on for approximately two to three weeks. Also, detectives learned that Stump had indecent contact with the victim, which occurred inside the classroom when they were alone.

On March 5, 2020, detectives filed criminal charges of Institutional Sexual Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor and Indecent Assault against Krista Ann Stump at Magisterial District Judge Kim Bagenstose’s Office and an arrest warrant was issued. The defendant surrendered to detectives at M.D.J. Bagenstose’s office where she was arraigned and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 9th, 2020 with Magisterial District Judge Bagenstose.

Photo published by the Berks County District Attorney's Office