A longtime Bucks County piano teacher is trading the practice room for a prison cell after a judge sentenced him to 18 to 54 years for sexually abusing young students during private lessons. Timothy Shay, 50, of Plumstead Township, was sentenced Tuesday after being convicted of indecent assault of a person under 13 and corruption of minors. In a wrenching scene in the courtroom, multiple victims read impact statements detailing years of abuse that investigators say unfolded in what were supposed to be ordinary music lessons. Authorities believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to speak up.
Judge Hands Down Decades-Long Sentence
On May 12, 2026, a Bucks County judge imposed the 18 to 54 year term following convictions centered on sexual contact that occurred during lessons, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Prosecutors said several victims addressed the court before the sentence, describing how the abuse has followed them well beyond childhood.
Investigation Traced Abuse Back To The Late 1990s
Police said a joint investigation by Middletown Township and Newtown Township officers began in February 2025 after a mandated reporter raised concerns about possible child sexual abuse, according to a Bucks County news release. Authorities stated that some of the alleged conduct dated back to the late 1990s.
The February 2025 arraignment was detailed in a notice from Bucks County and in earlier local coverage under the headline piano teacher charged with indecent assault.
Victims Say ‘Warmup’ Massages Escalated
According to investigators, students reported that Shay routinely began lessons with what he framed as warmup massages, starting at the wrists and forearms, then moving up the arms and neck. In some cases, the contact progressed to the torso and inner thighs. One victim estimated inappropriate touching happened 30 to 50 times. Another described multiple skin-to-skin incidents. Those details were reported by CBS Philadelphia.
Authorities Ask Other Possible Victims To Come Forward…