Trial Date Set For Former Plum H.S. Teacher Accused Of Sex With Student

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A judge set a trial date for a Plum High School teacher accused of having sex with a student.

Jason Cooper is charged with institutional sexual assault, corruption of a minor and providing alcohol to a minor.

The defense tried to have the case dismissed by arguing the relationship with the 18-year-old was legal.

Cooper and his attorney have argued that his sexual relationship with a student who turned 18 was not criminal once she was 18 and that nothing sexual happened before then.

But the prosecution said he groomed her in the years and days leading up to her 18th birthday and the judge agreed.

Judge David Cashman referred to an overnight at Cooper's home days before her 18th birthday.

"They have romantic discussions, he waits for his wife and children to go away during the Christmas holiday, she sleeps in his bed, he gives her a Long Island iced tea. What is the reasonable inference, that he's playing Santa Claus?" Cashman asked.

The judge also asked the defense attorney about what he would want for his own daughter.

"So what I believe Judge Cashman was saying by using my daughter as an example was what would I do? Said defense attorney Mike DeRiso. "I don't agree with what happened. I don't want what happen to happen but again the statute is the statute and that's what we are arguing is how overreaching is the statute."

The judge rejected defense arguments to drop the charges based on the way the law is written.

"Some people want to define it as I am making it a statement that it's open season for students," said DeRiso. "I think that is obtuse and I don't think that's all that I'm saying. What I'm saying is that until the legislatures correct the problem, the problem still exists and I don't believe the statute that Mr. Cooper was charged under corrects the problem especially in Plum.

At this point, Cooper's trial is scheduled to begin in November.

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