Former Delco teacher gets jail for child sex abuse

A former Delaware County teacher accused of sexually abusing at least a dozen young female students has been sentenced to one to two years in the Delaware County Prison.

Paul Hochschwender, 55, of Broomall, was found Tuesday to be a sexually violent predator, according to a spokeswoman for the county District Attorney's office. Ater serving his prison sentence, Hochschwender, in addition, is to serve a 10-year probation and must register as a sex offender for life.

He must also permanently forfeit his teaching certificate, the spokeswoman said.

Hochschwender, an ex-teacher in the Southeast Delco School District, was accused in 2014 of inappropriately touching two children in a Darby Township Elementary School second-grade classroom in front of other pupils. Ten other female students, all minors, subsequently came forward after authorities began to investigate.

A father of two, Hochschwender pleaded no contest to sexual assault and related criminal offenses in January.

- Caitlin McCabe