A Bucks County piano instructor has been accused of inappropriate behavior with students.
Timothy James Shay, 49, of Plumstead Township, was arrested by Newtown Township and Middletown Township police last Friday. He was preliminarily arraigned on four counts of indecent assault on a person less than 13 and corruption of minors. The music instructor was sent to the county lockup by on-call District Judge John Galloway on 10 percent of $1 million bail.
According to police, the investigation began on Feb. 6 when an adult resident reported inappropriate contact that started more than 20 years ago starting when they were just five years old. The alleged victim detailed how what began as simple wrist massages during piano lessons with Shay progressed to more invasive physical contact including massages on the biceps, triceps, and neck. The incidents escalated further and involved inappropriate touching near his pubic area and skin-to-skin contact, police said.
A second victim, who took lessons from Shay in elementary and middle school during the late 1990s and early 2000s, recounted similar experiences. He stated that Shay would touch him near his genitals under the guise of exercising the bladder, police said.
Another adult, who was also a student of Shay’s during a similar period, reported that massages given by Shay in Newtown Township during lessons moved from his back to his abdomen and groin area, police said.
The allegations continued with a fourth victim who was eight years old at the time of his lessons with Shay. He reported that Shay massaged his inner and upper thighs, supposedly to relieve tension, and instructed him to create a “hand barrier” near his genitalia during the process.
In one of the cases, Shay told the boy at the time not to tell anyone else about what happened, police said.
“The abuse for all four victims occurred on multiple occasions. One of the victims reported being abused 30 to 50 times under the guise of lessons,” Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said.
Schorn told reporters Friday that Shay had been working as recently as last week with students.
Shay was most recently providing music lessons in Doylestown Borough and had expanded his services to include virtual lessons. He has previously conducted lessons around the county, soliciting work on Facebook, Twitch, TikTok, and other social media platforms.
Chief of Police Joseph Bartorilla stated he “strongly believes” there are more victims and commended the four people who have already come forward.
“The arrest is an important step forward, but our work is not done,” Bartorilla said. “If there are any other victims – no matter how long ago these crimes took place or where – we want to hear from you. Your voice matters. You will remain anonymous throughout the process, and we will do everything to support justice.”
Middletown Township police received the first tip of suspected past abuse through a “mandated reporter,” a person in a job that is required by law to tell law enforcement about abuse of minors, according to Schorn.
The victims listed in court documents all did not know one another, and the case came together so quickly due to the work of Middletown Township police Detective John Beck and Newtown Township police Detective Nicholas Moffet, according to Schorn and Bartorilla.
Authorities are urging anyone with information or who may have been impacted to come forward as they continue their investigation. Those with tips can call detectives at 215-750-3872.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
Advertisement
Convenient Legal Access to High Quality Cannabis Just A Few Minutes Away!
Leave a Comment