Parents in King of Prussia are confronting deeply unsettling news after a third-grade teacher in the Upper Merion Area School District was arrested Tuesday on child indecent assault charges. Authorities say 39-year-old Zachary Schettone, of King of Prussia, is accused of inappropriately touching a student in August 2025 when the child sat on his lap. The district placed Schettone on leave once investigators launched their probe, and officials say he has not returned to the classroom since.
According to CBS News Philadelphia, Schettone was arrested on charges that include indecent assault without consent, indecent assault of a victim under 13, corruption of minors and harassment by physical contact. Upper Merion Township police said the investigation began after the child came forward, and court documents list a preliminary hearing date of April 6. Police announced the arrest in a public statement but, as CBS News Philadelphia reports, they released few additional details about the circumstances or the victim.
School records list Schettone as a third-grade teacher at Gulph Elementary, and the Gulph Elementary staff page shows his name on the third-grade roster. District materials note that Gulph Elementary sits at 650 South Henderson Road in King of Prussia. With the criminal case and internal reviews still active, the district has kept public comment to a minimum.
Legal Process and What Comes Next
Court filings show Schettone facing a mix of felony and misdemeanor counts tied to the alleged touching, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 6. As reported by CBS News Philadelphia, police opened their investigation after the child disclosed the allegation, and district officials immediately placed the teacher on leave.
Under Pennsylvania law, the Department of Education and the state’s Professional Standards and Practices Commission can move to suspend or revoke an educator’s certification when charges involve certain offenses. The commission may also act if an educator “poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of students,” according to Professional Standards and Practices Commission documents. Any disciplinary action on Schettone’s teaching license would run on a separate track from the criminal case.
The arrest lands amid broader scrutiny in Pennsylvania over how quickly the state and local districts respond when educators face serious allegations. A review by The Philadelphia Inquirer found that the education department has, in some comparable cases, taken months or longer to suspend certifications, a lag that advocates have sharply criticized.
For now, Schettone is due back in court for the April 6 preliminary hearing, and Upper Merion Township police say the case remains under investigation. This story will be updated as officials release new information or as additional details emerge in court records.
