54-year-old Paul E Hochschwender of Broomall surrender Tuesday to be formally processed on additional charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors. He was arraigned and released on bail.
Now there is a total of eight girls who say Hochschwender groped them while they attended the Darby Township School in Glenolden.
Six of the girls are 7-years-old. He was their second grade teacher this year. Two of the victims are now teenagers - ages 18 and 14.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan says the girls tell similar stories of inappropriate touching.
Whelan says, "One child tells us that when she was learning how to write cursive, the defendant would come up, touch her in the private area, and offer her a piece of candy and put that piece of candy in her pocket. She tells us this happens commonly to my friends. And this happened specifically with her two tot here times."
The DA is also looking at how the school dealt with early complaints about Hockschwender.
About two years ago a 5th grader and her father allegedly submitted a written complaint to school officials that seemed to go nowhere.
Whelan explains, "The father gave a report to the school with names of other children. And we're looking at what happen to that report, where is it today, why wasn't that acted upon a couple of year ago, and even more concerning is you go back to eight years ... before today's time."
That was when another 5th grader, according to the DA's filing, was made to "feel guilty" by a guidance counselor after mentioning Hockschwender's family and "ruining his career".
The girl eventually recanted once school officials reportedly allowed the accused teacher into the room where the girl was being questioned.
"That's very intimidating for anyone, let alone a fifth grader," Whelan said.
Asked if how the school handled the early complaints could lead to charges, Whelan replied, "That is certainly under review, as to whether or not there is any criminality."
The DA says the Southeast Delco School District is cooperating with their probe into this matter.
