Search Warrants Reveal 8 Possible Victims In Plum HS Scandal

PLUM (KDKA) -- Investigators returned to Plum High School Wednesday seeking more records in a grand jury probe of alleged inappropriate sexual relationships between teacher and students.

There may be as many as eight victims.

As seniors at the high school prepare to wear a cap and gown, investigators from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office are carting boxes of records from the school in a probe that has overshadowed graduation.

"This casts a shadow on what was a great senior class.," said Superintendent Timothy Glasspool. "It's really been a great school year. For that I'm sorry. I wish we didn't have to deal with this."

A search warrant issued to the school makes it clear that the investigation is widening.

It seeks all records of inappropriate relationships, including personnel records for the two teachers already charged in the scandal, Joseph Ruggieri and Jason Cooper.

The grand jury is also looking at records from the school's full-time police officer, or resource officer, Mark Kost.

"If there was ever a legitimate complaint concerning a sexual allegation of a student, a teacher, a principal, anything, he would report it and he did report it," said Phil Dilucente, Kost's attorney.

But the search warrant's most startling revelation is that there could be as many as eight victims. It seeks records for Jane Does one through eight.

It comes as a big surprise to the school superintendent.

"If there's new information with Jane Does three through six, if you will, that is news to me. I'm surprised. I'm surprised as anybody," said Glasspool.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala's not talking about the probe.

You wouldn't expect him to talk about it because grand jury proceedings are supposed to be secret. But typically, grand juries can take weeks or even months before reaching any conclusions.

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