Pennsylvania academic counselor, 35, charged with sexual assault after alleged explicit relationship with 14-year-old student

A Pennsylvania guidance counselor has been charged with sexual assault after allegedly having an explicit relationship with a 14-year-old student.

Kelly Schutte, 35, was charged Thursday with three counts of institutional sexual assault, three counts of indecent assault on a person under 16 and one count of corruption of minors. according to the district attorney’s office. Schutte was reportedly released on $25,000 bail.

Schutte is a guidance counselor at Pennridge South High School in Perkasie, Pennsylvania.

In July, the teen’s mother notified police that her son informed her that he had had a “romantic and sexual relationship” with Schutte since the fall of 2022.

When detectives interviewed the teen, he said the alleged inappropriate relationship began during a field trip when the couple reportedly sat next to each other on a school bus.

The guidance counselor and the student allegedly began exchanging messages on Canvas, a program that allows school staff to communicate with students.

The teen alleged that he would soon begin spending more time in Schutte’s office at school and less time in his classes.

The student told police that after the school year ended he continued to communicate with Schutte through the instant messaging app Snapchat.

The student allegedly said the relationship became sexual in June.

According to the affidavit, the couple engaged in sexual acts inside Schutte’s car in the parking lot of a local supermarket, in the teen’s bedroom while his parents were out of town, and at his home.

Schutte reportedly left one of her earrings at the teen’s home and investigators recovered it, the affidavit alleges.

In July, a relative reportedly entered Schutte’s home and saw the counselor kissing the boy. After being caught, the teen allegedly told his mother about the explicit relationship.

Authorities notified the Pennridge School District, which placed Schutte on administrative leave in July pending the results of an investigation.

A Pennridge School District spokesperson confirmed Friday afternoon that Schutte still worked there.

Schutte is prohibited from entering any district-owned property.

Pennridge Superintendent Angelo Berrios said in a statement Friday: “While we refrain from making premature judgments about the actions of the staff member facing prosecution, it is crucial to reiterate the district’s stance against any inappropriate contact between an employee “Pennridge School District and a student. Behavior like this will not be tolerated.”

Schutte’s attorney, Josh Buchanan, did not respond to a request for comment from the Philadelphia researcher.

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