Abington School District is bringing in outside help after a man now charged in an alleged sexual assault of a student was able to enter Abington Senior High several times, according to district officials. The arrest, revealed at a recent school board meeting, has parents and staff demanding to know how someone facing such serious allegations got through the doors more than once.
Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Fecher told the board the district will conduct an independent review of what went wrong and will coordinate closely with law enforcement while the criminal case moves through the courts.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, police records identify the suspect as Raheem Grange Allen. He is accused of multiple rape and sexual assault related charges. Investigators allege the student allowed Allen into the high school on several occasions, and police say he attempted to sexually assault her at the school in March and later at her home. NBC10 Philadelphia also reports Allen is being held on $250,000 bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 2.
District launches independent probe
“We are launching a third-party internal investigation,” Fecher told the board, explaining that the district will partner with the Montgomery County Department of School Safety to see whether additional security measures are needed. NBC10 Philadelphia reported that officials are reviewing all existing security protocols and procedures in light of the case.
The district’s communications director told reporters after the meeting that the superintendent would not be taking questions, leaving families to wait for the findings of the outside review rather than getting on-the-spot answers.
Local policing shows recent related probes
Abington Township Police have been handling other alleged sexual offense cases this spring as well. On June 3, the township posted a press release outlining a separate follow-up arrest tied to a long-running child sex investigation. Abington Township details that earlier probe, offering context for why residents are watching closely to see how schools and police coordinate on these types of cases.
School officials say any changes to campus safety procedures will be shaped by that coordination and by the results of the district’s internal review.
What the law requires next
The July 2 proceeding is a preliminary hearing in front of a magistrate-level judge, which is designed to determine whether there is enough evidence to move the case toward trial. It is not a full trial on guilt or innocence. Pennsylvania Courts explains that at a preliminary hearing, charges can be dismissed, reduced, or held for the Court of Common Pleas.
Any outcome from that hearing will become part of the public record, though police note that many details are routinely withheld in cases involving minors in order to protect the privacy of the alleged victim.
How families can get updates
The district says it will keep families informed as the third-party review moves forward and urges anyone with relevant information to contact school administrators or Abington Township Police.
Contact details for the high school and district offices are available on the Abington Senior High page of the district’s website. School leaders say they are trying to balance transparency with student privacy while both the criminal investigation and the district’s internal review continue.
