John Richards, 57, of Newtown Square, was arrested on felony charges of attempted institutional sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and related offenses, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele explained.
The investigation began on March 17 when a Norristown Police detective responded to Blockson Middle School after school officials, including Principal David Luger and School Resource Officer William Kane, reported concerns about Richards’ interactions with a student. Richards, an eighth-grade teacher, called the student to his desk and discreetly showed her a typed message on his cellphone, hidden behind his laptop. The message, written in Spanish, stated:
“I am very nervous. If you say yes, I would like to kiss you at least 2 times in Washington. If you say no, that is ok, you’re not any less beautiful. It is your decision, and you can change your opinion when you want. You don’t need to tell me now unless you want to.”…