Montgomery County school employee faces sexual assault charges

UPPER GWYNEDD TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Police arrested a Montgomery County elementary school employee for having sexual contact with a student.

Police say Marcus Forte began inappropriately Facebook messaging a 13-year-old student last fall.

But the former IT employee at Gwynedd Mercy Academy Elementary took it a step further in April.

When the teen texted him "home sick," he replied, "come to my house and snuggle."

Court records reveal after taking the student to Starbucks, the 40-year-old followed her into her home and began "touching and tickling her."

The teen told police he was "literally on top of me", "trying to make out with me," while groping her despite repeated pleas to stop.

Police say Forte also met with her privately during school hours in his office at least six times.

A woman answered the door at Forte's listed address, but refused to comment.

Neighbor Janice Brown lives across the street from Forte.

"I'm shocked, he seemed very nice," Brown said, adding, "I haven't seen him for a while, but I used to see him just about every morning."

Neighbors are struggling to make sense of the man next door and the disturbing allegations.

"Would never have guessed anybody like that would be living around here," neighbor Craig Gwozdziewicz said.

Forte faces felony sexual assault charges.

He is in jail on $500,000 bail.