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Former Highlands aide charged with inappropriate contact with student

Former Highlands aide charged with inappropriate contact with student

A Former Highlands School District student aide was arrested today after police discovered that he had received partially nude photos of a 16-year-old high school student.

Scott Alan Duell, 28, of Harrison, has been charged with unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse of children and corruption of minors.

Allegheny County Police said Mr. Duell met the girl while they were working on the school musical, and the two began contacting each other using the Snapchat app. The teenager told authorities that she initiated the exchange in October or November.

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The teenager told investigators that in January she sent about 20 photos of herself to Mr. Duell via Snapchat, including some that showed her nude from the waist up.

She said Mr. Duell insisted that she only contact him on Snapchat and would compliment her, saying things such as, “We should get together, watch a movie, cuddle.” The teenager said Mr. Duell told her, “If I didn’t work for the school, it would be easier.”

The two never had any physical contact, according to police.

Mr. Duell told police that he had received a number of photos from the teenager and used the Capture app to save them on his phone. Investigators said they found six topless photos of the student after searching Mr. Duell’s phone.

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The Highlands School District said in a statement this evening that it was “just hearing of the arrest following a police investigation that we initiated once we discovered that Mr. Duell could be involved with inappropriate communications with a student.”

The district said Mr. Duell, who served as a paraprofessional, no longer works there. 

Mr. Duell faces a preliminary hearing April 27 before District Judge Carolyn S. Bengel in Brackenridge.

 

 

  

 

First Published: April 15, 2016, 3:27 a.m.

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