Police Blotter 
Cause Of Fire Determined

Analysis 
Warring Democratic Duo To Smoke Peace Pipe 
Ray Musto Likely Believes 
Trinisewski Truce Would Be 
Politically Helpful To Brother Joe

By JERRY LYNOTT and JAMES RUBIN; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Wednesday, December 23, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: WILKES-BARRE AREA
MISCAVAGE 





PLAINS TWP. -- Edward Miscavage, a Plains Junior High School teacher, has
been charged with assault on a junior high student, Plains Township police
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Tuesday, Luzerne County District Attorney Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said
his office reviewed the investigation file at the request of the township
police. Olszewski said there was sufficient evidence to warrant filing a
charge against Miscavage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A committee of school district administrators is also investigating
Miscavage's alleged assault of the student. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The teacher has been suspended with pay, Wilkes-Barre Area School District
administrative assistant for pupil personnel Jeff Namey said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It is the first time that Namey can remember a teacher from the district
being charged for allegedly striking a student. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Namey has been a teacher and administrator with Wilkes-Barre for 23 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They're (school officials) trying to find out what the situation was,"
Namey said. "You're innocent until proven guilty." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Namey could not say what the committee, which includes superintendent Leo
Solomon, would decide to do about Miscavage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He did not rule out dismissal. He said the committee would follow the
advice of the school board's solicitor Anthony J. Lupas Jr. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Township Police Chief John Timko said William Everett, stepfather of
14-year-old Kim Compton, filed a complaint on Dec. 3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to the complaint, Compton was allegedly assaulted by Miscavage on
Dec. 2 while she was serving detention at the Plains Township Junior High
School. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Namey said the district's code forbids a teacher from striking or
restraining a child unless the teacher is threatened or trying to break up a
fight. The district also prohibits corporal punishment, such as paddling, if a
parent forbids it and notifies the district. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're very careful about teachers touching a child," Namey said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Everett, of Plains Township, initially filed a private complaint with
District Justice Diane Malast, but later withdrew it on advice of police. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Private complaints are routinely forwarded to the Luzerne County District
Attorney's office and then sent back to the police department in the
municipality where the alleged offense occurred. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By filing the complaint with police, Timko said it will save time and allow
investigators to immediately begin interviewing people.

W-b Area Teacher Is Charged 
With Assault On Jr. High Student 
The Wilkes-barre Area School District Has Not Decided What It Will Do About 
The Teacher, Who Has Been Suspended 
With Pay

W-b Area Teacher Is Charged With Assault On Jr. High Student The Wilkes-barre Area School District Has Not Decided What It Will Do About The Teacher, Who Has Been Suspended With Pay