web1_TTL040417tyler.soup_.jpg

Tyler physicians donate to soup kitchen

web1_TTL040417marywood.leadon.jpg

Marywood honors doctor at award ceremony

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A former Wilkes-Barre Area teacher and soccer coach who the school district suspended amid allegations he had inappropriate sexual contact with two underage students is scheduled to plead guilty next month, court documents filed Monday show.</p><p>Robert J. Havard Jr., 36, of Plains Township, faces two misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors stemming from separate incidents in 2008 and 2009 in which he allegedly received oral sex from students who were 16 and 17 years old at the time, respectively.</p><p>Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said she could not comment on details of the plea or whether a plea agreement was reached in the matter. A message left Monday for defense attorney Charles G. Ross Jr. was not immediately returned.</p><p>Havard, a former teacher and boys soccer coach at Coughlin who most recently taught at Solomon/Plains Junior High School, was suspended without pay when charges first surfaced October and resigned from the school district the following month, Solicitor Ray Wendolowski said Monday.</p><p>Authorities <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/595819/wilkes-barre-area-teacher-soccer-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault" target="_blank">first charged Havard Oct. 11</a>. Arrest papers in that case say a witness interviewed by investigators said students at a 2008 house party saw Havard arrive with a keg of beer and later watched him exit a bedroom where an 11th grade girl was discovered lying nude on a bed.</p><p>The 16-year-old, who had been drinking at the party, told investigators Havard took her into the bedroom and directed her to perform oral sex on him, arrest papers say. Afterward, Havard warned the victim not to tell anyone. She told investigators she &#8220;was disgusted and felt dirty&#8221; when fellow students saw her in the bedroom, prompting her to end further sexual encounters with Havard.</p><p>Additional <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/607902/suspended-wilkes-barre-area-teacher-soccer-coach-headed-to-higher-court-on-additional-charges" target="_blank">charges against the educator surfaced in November</a>. The victim in that case, a 17-year-old, alleged she and Havard left a house party at Havard&#8217;s home in July 2009, and walked to a nearby rock quarry where they made out and she performed oral sex on him, arrest papers say.</p><p>Havard allegedly admitted to inappropriately touching the victim and to the oral sex during an interview with investigators in October. Arrest papers say he told investigators he knew what he had done was wrong and wasn&#8217;t thinking, but &#8220;was flattered that people were interested in him.&#8221;</p><p>Havard remains free on $50,000 bail.</p><p>His plea hearing is set for May 3.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_web1_web1_IMG_3622-12-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Robert J. Havard, Jr., 36, of Plains Township, is escorted away from a hearing in October after being arraigned on charges he had an inappriorite sexual relationship with a minor student. Court records indicate Havard will plead guilty next month. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_web1_web1_IMG_3622-12-2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Robert J. Havard, Jr., 36, of Plains Township, is escorted away from a hearing in October after being arraigned on charges he had an inappriorite sexual relationship with a minor student. Court records indicate Havard will plead guilty next month. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ex-WBA teacher, coach to plead guilty in student sex case