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Melissa Bonkoski

Melissa Bonkoski

Melissa Bonkoski wearing her Philadelphia Phillies baseball jersey at a game

Melissa Bonkoski wearing her Philadelphia Phillies baseball jersey at a game

Melissa Bonkoski is a convicted sex offender and former Science Teacher at Owen J. Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The school is within the Owen J. Roberts School District in northern Chester County, Pennsylvania. On February 26, 2018 she pleaded guilty to institutional sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor after sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student. [1]

Personal Life

Melissa Bonkoski resides in Glenside, Pennsylvania. She recently lived in Stowe, Pennsylvania. She is a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball (MLB) team.

Career

Melissa Bonkoski was a Science Teacher and a Softball Coach at Owen J. Roberts High School. [1] She tendered her resigned from her position after criminal charges relating to her sexual assault of a student in August, 2017.

Criminal Record

Mugshot of Melissa Bonkoski

Mugshot of Melissa Bonkoski [1]

On Monday, February 26, 2018 Melissa Bonkoski pleaded guilty to institutional sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor, both third-degree felony charges punishable by a maximum of three and half to seven years in state prison. [1]

“Do you agree that you engaged in sex with a 16-year-old?” Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft asked the defendant.

“Yes,” Bonkoski responded.

Melissa Bonkoski was first charged with harassing the teenage student, who complained to police.

But she later admitted that she had sex with the youth at her home in Stowe, Pennsylvania, in December 2016, after inviting him there to watch television. [1]

The victim, a 16-year-old male, was a student in the defendant’s class during his freshman year.

He came forward and told investigators about the relationship he had with Bonkoski after a girlfriend discovered improper text messages on his cellphone and alerted authorities, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. [1]

Bonkoski later told detectives that she had purchased a burner phone only for communications with the student, thinking that it would be untraceable to her. [1]

“I thought I was being smart,” she told police in an interview.

[1]

According to the release, Bonkoski started the relationship by communicating with the victim outside of school.

The conduct progressed to kissing and “make-out” sessions in her car when she would pick him up from work.

The youth said he was afraid that he would stop getting rides if he stopped kissing the defendant.

[1]

Bonkoski eventually invited the victim to her house, and discussed oral sex and sexual intercourse with the student. She kept communicating with him on the “burner” phone, trying to keep the communications secret. Then, sometime in December, they had sex. Bonkoski acknowledged the contact in an interview with Chester County Detective Christine Bleiler of the DA’s Child Abuse Unit on Aug. 11; the teen confirmed the matter on Aug. 21, according to the arrest affidavit. [1]

The victim eventually tried to cut off contact with Bonkoski, but she continued to insist on contacting him via text messages, leading to the discovery of the crime.

[1]

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Emily Provencher of the Child Abuse Unit.

Bonkoski is represented by defense attorney Marc Neff of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1]

References

[1]
Citation Linkdelcotimes.comDelaware County Daily Times: Former Owen J. Roberts teacher admits sex with student
Mar 3, 2018, 8:14 PM
[2]
Citation Linkpatch.comPatch.com: Former Owen J. Roberts HS Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sexual Assault
Mar 3, 2018, 8:28 PM
[3]
Citation Linkreadingeagle.comReading Eagle: Former Owen J. Roberts teacher pleads guilty in sex case
Mar 3, 2018, 8:50 PM
[4]
Citation Linkfacebook.comFacebookgroup about Melissa Bonkoski
Mar 3, 2018, 9:37 PM
[5]
Citation Linkfacebook.comMelissa Bonkoski on Facebook
Mar 3, 2018, 8:24 PM
[6]
Citation Linkdailymail.co.ukDaily Mail: Ex-teacher, 38, pleads guilty to having sex with her 16-year-old student whose girlfriend found their texts
Mar 3, 2018, 8:20 PM
[7]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comMelissa Bonkoski pulling a funny face at her teacher's desk [3]
Mar 3, 2018, 9:39 PM
[8]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comMugshot of Melissa Bonkoski [0]
Mar 3, 2018, 9:34 PM
[9]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comMelissa Bonkoski at her desk as a teacher [3]
Mar 3, 2018, 9:39 PM
[10]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:46 PM
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Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:47 PM
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Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:46 PM
[13]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:53 PM
[14]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:50 PM
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Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:54 PM
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Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:52 PM
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Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:53 PM
[18]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comMeme created about Melissa Bonkoski as a teacher [3]
Mar 3, 2018, 9:44 PM
[19]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com
Mar 3, 2018, 9:48 PM
[20]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comMelissa Bonkoski and a student hugging [3]
Mar 3, 2018, 9:40 PM