Official: Trespasser at O’Hara was fired for having porn on laptop

A former teacher who trespassed Friday morning at Cardinal O'Hara High School, triggering an hour-long lockdown, had been dismissed in 2008 for having pornographic material on his laptop, a school official said.

Kenneth Gavin, associate communications director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said the man had been dismissed on a morals clause.

Police in Marple Township identified the intruder as Walter Lion, 61, of Pennsbury Township, Chester County. Late Friday afternoon, charges against Lion on defiant trespass and related offenses were pending, police said.

Police Chief Thomas Murray said school officials escorted Lion from the building at 10:55 a.m. only to find that at 11:38 he had returned.

"Further information indicated that the school officials had lost track of the individual," Murray said, "and out of an abundance of caution, they locked down the school until they could locate and remove the subject."

The school's president said he was mystified about what Lion was doing there.

William J. McCusker said the former teacher somehow reentered the school building on South Sproul Road bypassing the front door. Lion may have used a key to the gym, where he had worked.

"We don't know why he was back," McCusker said. "He didn't belong here."

The president of the 1,400-pupil school said Lion taught science and physical education at O'Hara for more than 20 years.

McCusker said a current teacher in the gymnasium saw his former colleague, wearing jeans and a hoodie, cutting through the gym.

"When their eyes met," McCusker said, "the guy took off running."

The current gym teacher notified the assistant principal, who immediately put the school in lockdown, and police were called, McCusker said.

Lion was not carrying anything. It was not known if he was looking for anything or anyone still at the school.

"To my knowledge, he has not come back and had no reason to come back," McCusker said. He would not discuss the circumstances under which the teacher left the school.

McCusker said the school would mount an investigation into how Lion got in and out. Once that is clear, it will tighten security procedures.

The lockdown started at 11:45 a.m. and ended at 12:45 p.m., once state police located Lion at his home.

They did not take him into custody because no warrant had been issued for his arrest, Murray said.

No one was hurt in the incident, and no weapon was shown.

Marple Township police responded, as did officers from Newtown, Springfield, Upper Providence, Nether Providence, and Haverford Townships and Media Borough.

McCusker said that as soon as the lockdown was lifted, about 25 parents came to the school and took their children home, McCusker said. An additional 20 parents wanted to see their children and make sure they were safe.