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Former Dauphin County assistant principal sentenced for sexual relationship with student

HARRISBURG, PA (WPMT)  Former Susquehanna Township High School assistant principal Shawn Sharkey has been sentenced for having a sexual relationship with a 16-y...

HARRISBURG, PA (WPMT)  Former Susquehanna Township High School assistant principal Shawn Sharkey has been sentenced for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. A Dauphin County judge sentenced Sharkey to serve 6-18 months at the Dauphin County Work Release Center.  Sharkey will begin serving his sentence March 3, 2015 at 9 a.m. Dauphin County President Judge Todd Hoover also sentenced Sharkey to 2 years supervision after his incarceration.

During the sentencing hearing Sharkey's relatives talked to the judge about his character and asked him to be lenient. Shortly after the victim's father broke down and asked the judge to set an example when he sentenced Sharkey. The victim's father said Sharkey manipulated and prayed on his daughter when she went to Sharkey because she was being bullied. Her father also said Sharkey's actions have affected the whole family. He said he carries guilt because the incidents happened on "his watch, while he was sleeping in the home."

Sharkey stood up and addressed the judge. He apologized to the victim and her family and said he will pray for forgiveness.

Sharkey pleaded guilty in November 2014 to three charges including institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor. Starkey admitted that shortly after becoming assistant principal at the Susquehanna Township High School, he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student.

The relationship took place from February through March, according to an affidavit. Prosecutors said that Sharkey would arrange to pick up the girl in his car and the pair would then drive to local motels to engage in sexual activity.

He resigned shortly after being charged in Sept. 2013 and has surrendered his teaching license.

The Sexual Offender Assessment Board determined Sharkey is not considered a sexually violent predator. However, he must register as a sex offender for his lifetime.

The prosecutor asked the judge to require that Sharkey follow sex offender guidelines including no contact with the victim, no contact with any minors except immediate family, no access to schools or playgrounds, and limited or no access to a cell phone, computer and social media.

 

 

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