Houseparent at Boarding School Arrested for Child Molestation
A Pennsylvania man who worked as a houseparent at the Milton Hershey School was arrested for a number of sexual offenses this weekend after authorities say he molested an 8-year-old student, PennLive.com reports.
According to police, the girl told another houseparent on Saturday that 41-year-old Fernando Zagaceta had “touched her inappropriately.” From WPMT:
The girl said she was sleeping in her bed when Zagaceta began touching her arm and pulled her blanket down. She said he then pulled her pants down and began to touch her.
Police say Zagaceta admitted to being in the girl’s room and touching her hand to see if she was sleeping. He said he was taught by another house parent to do that. “Zagaceta initially couldn’t remember if he touched her legs or removed the blanket,” police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
In a statement, the Milton Hershey School said it reported the incident to police immediately and has barred Zagaceta from returning to the campus.
“Such behavior is reprehensible and unacceptable, and we are taking this matter very seriously,” said a school spokesperson. “The safety of the children in our care is our highest priority, and we are focused on providing all the care and support that this student needs right now.”
Zagaceta now faces charges of indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor.