Woman charged with having sexual contact with Unionville High students

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times

Sheri Maufort

EAST MARLBOROUGH — A Birmingham woman is charged with having sexual contact with two male Unionville High School students earlier this year while working as a substitute teacher’s aide at the school.

Sheri Maufort, 42, faces multiple counts of Institutional Sexual Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor, Endangering Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced she was arrested, Wednesday.

Upon learning of the incidents, school authorities immediately reported it to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office last Friday, sparking an immediate investigation by State Police and the Chester County Detectives.

“The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will not stand for this type of behavior. Unionville-Chadds Ford Superintendent of Schools John Sanville said in a statement. “We immediately reported this incident to law enforcement and are grateful for the rapid response. We now will begin the difficult task of addressing this incident with our students, parents, and teachers.”

Two male students were alleged to have been involved — one 18, the other under 18 — both students in a classroom where Maufort worked. According to school officials, Maufort worked in district schools a total of 25 times, as a substitute aide and fill-in secretary, employed by Substitute Teacher Service, beginning in May, 2015. She had cleared all background checks and clearances as required by the state and the company.

Sanville reached out to parents and the greater Unionville community within minutes of the official release from DA Tom Hogan’s office coming out, Wednesday.

“We take great pride in the quality of our faculty and staff as they are the backbone of UCFSD,” said in an email to parents. “They are the best, the brightest, the most dedicated, and this incident is not a reflection on them. Instead we have all been forced to understand that there are predators, and sometimes they invade where we live. Take comfort in the knowledge that UCFSD moved rapidly and without hesitation because the safety of our students is always paramount.”

Sanville stressed that he and his staff would be available to speak with parents, students and the community at large about the matter and the counselors were ready to work with students.

Authorities said the alleged incidents started in August of this year.

Investigators say that Maufort contacted the first victim, a minor, via text message and asked him to come outside his home to meet her. He allegedly got into her car and she took him out of his neighborhood. She allegedly supplied him with alcohol, investigators said.

She and the minor then reportedly parked at a restaurant in Birmingham. They walked out into a field where she is alleged to have kissed the victim on the mouth and performed oral sex on him. Maufort’s husband later showed up at the restaurant. The defendant reportedly told the victim not to tell anyone what happened and to call her when he turned 18. The defendant’s husband then drove the victim home, according to investigators.

Approximately three weeks later, Maufort had contact with the second student, who was 18 at the time but still a student at Unionville High School, when the two met at a post high school football game party.

Reportedly, the student got into the Maufort’s car and she drove him out of the neighborhood where the party was being held. She then parked the vehicle and kissed the young man and touched his penis. The defendant then drove him back to the party.

Authorities stressed that any sexual contact between an adult and minor is a serious issue, one made more serious when the adult is in a position of trust.

“Any sexual contact between an adult and a minor is a serious matter,” Lt. Richard D’Ambrosio, Pennsylvania State Police, Avondale Barracks, said in a statement. “The involvement of a teacher’s aide, someone who is entrusted with the well-being of a student and who is in a position of authority, cannot and will not be tolerated.”