Teacher, charged with assaulting children, pleads no contest

A former Delaware County second-grade teacher pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges in three cases that he touched 10 students inappropriately.

Paul Hochschwender, 55, of Broomall, who taught at Darby Township School in the Southeast Delco district, surrendered to authorities to begin serving a prison sentence.

He pleaded no contest to two counts of institutional sexual assault, four counts of indecent assault, and four counts of corruption of minors, according to Michael Galantino, deputy district attorney.

He is scheduled to be sentenced April 7.

The District Attorney's Office has recommended that Hochschwender serve two years in the county prison, followed by 10 years' probation, and that he register as a sexual offender. It asked that he surrender his teaching certificate and not have any contact with the victims or their families.

In March, two 7-year-olds said they were assaulted in separate incidents in the classroom in front of other pupils.

More victims came forward as authorities investigated other sexual-abuse allegations against Hochschwender. On the school website, Hochschwender described himself as a teacher for 19 years and a father of two sons.

Hochschwender worked in the Radnor Township School District from 1993 to 2000, according to school officials.