A Pittsburgh attorney says they are pushing hard for accountability after Allegheny County police reported that multiple students were sexually assaulted by a former Highlands School District teacher. The accused, 53-year-old Sean Dicer of Brackenridge, was arrested in December and now faces additional charges after detectives identified alleged victims whose cases reach back to 2007 and include incidents in 2021. The unfolding allegations have shaken Highlands-area families and ramped up pressure for anyone with information to step forward.
What police allege
According to WTAE, court paperwork states that Dicer faces counts including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors. Detectives say the investigation opened when a 16-year-old came forward in November. One now-adult victim told police he and a classmate were abused in 2007 while Dicer taught fifth grade. Other allegations describe assaults at Dicer’s Brackenridge home in 2021, and investigators have asked anyone with information to call the county tipline.
Grooming and payments
Local reporting and court documents allege Dicer used classroom rewards, described in complaints as “BD Bucks,” and later real cash or digital transfers as tools to groom and silence victims. The complaints and interviews reviewed by outlets say at least one victim produced proof of Cash App payments totaling more than $6,000, and some allegations describe photo taking and offers of money for silence, per reporting by Patch and the Cranberry Eagle. Those details also appear in the criminal complaint obtained by local newsrooms.
Legal implications and next steps
The criminal counts listed in the complaints rely on Chapter 31 of Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and related offenses are felonies that can carry decades behind bars, according to the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. The state’s corruption-of-minors provisions and other statutes help explain why prosecutors have filed multiple counts in cases that allege a pattern of grooming or repeated exploitation. Victims may also have potential civil remedies against an individual or, in some circumstances, a school district. Anyone with concerns can report suspected abuse to Pennsylvania’s ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 and consult an attorney about civil options.
Where the case stands
As of the most recent local reporting, Dicer remained in Allegheny County custody while detectives and prosecutors continue to review complaints and evidence. County police have created a tipline, 1-833-ALL-TIPS, for anyone with information. The Highlands School District has told reporters that Dicer resigned in 2022 and that the district is cooperating with investigators. Local advocates say the case highlights, yet again, how critical it is to report suspected abuse regardless of when it occurred…