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Retired Coughlin principal sentenced in teacher-sex scandal

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A teacher <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/595819/wilkes-barre-area-teacher-soccer-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault" target="_blank">accused of heaving a sexual relationship with a student</a> is now facing even more charges after a former student came forward with allegations.</p><p>Robert J. Havard Jr., 36, of Ridgewood Road, Wilkes-Barre, faces three charges of corruption of minors stemming from the incident that allegedly happened in 2009.</p><p>According to the criminal complaint, a former student who was 17 years old at the time of the alleged incident talked to investigators on Oct. 13. The victim graduated from Coughlin High School in 2009, according to court documents.</p><p>The victim alleged Havard sent her &#8220;flirty text messages&#8221; over the span of a few months. The victim also told investigators Havard would provide her and other girls excuses to get out of class, and she would go to Havard&#8217;s classroom to play video games.</p><p>She also remembered a mall classmate telling her Havard told him he though the victim was &#8220;hot.&#8221;</p><p>Investigators said the victim attended an underage drinking party in June or July 2009 at Havard&#8217;s house, when he &#8220;made a move on her&#8221; and they left the party. The victim alleged they walked to a rock quarry near the residence where they made out and she performed oral sex on him.</p><p>In an interview with investigators on Oct. 11, Havard allegedly admitted to inappropriately touching the victim and to the oral sex.</p><p>Havard allegedly told investigators he knew what he had done was wrong, he wasn&#8217;t thinking, but he &#8220;was flattered that people were interested in him.&#8221;</p><p>Havard waived three counts of corruption of minors to higher court. In that case, Havard is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student. He <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/598672/wilkes-barre-area-teacher-soccer-coach-heading-to-higher-court-on-corruption-of-minors-charegs" target="_blank">waived those charges onto higher court</a> in October.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre Area School District Solicitor Ray Wendolowski said Havard, hired in August 2005, has been suspended, effective Oct. 11. Wendolowski said Havard waived his Loudermill hearing, and is currently suspended without pay.</p><p>Court documents indicate Havard waived the charges onto higher court. He is scheduled for a formal arraignment at 9 a.m. Feb. 9 in the Luzerne County Courthouse.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Robert J. Havard, Jr., 36, of Plains, is escorted away from district court in October. Travis Kellar | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_web1_IMG_3622-12-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Robert J. Havard, Jr., 36, of Plains, is escorted away from district court in October. Travis Kellar | Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Suspended Wilkes-Barre Area teacher, soccer coach headed to higher court on more sex charges