PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Bucks County choir teacher has been arrested after allegedly taking video of a former student in his home's guest room as he undressed, and inappropriately touching him during a trip.
Joseph Ohrt, 56, of Buckingham Township, was arrested Tuesday in Furlong. The retired Central Bucks High School West teacher faces five felony charges as well as a charge of invasion of privacy without consent.
The Bucks County District Attorney's office said Ohrt had mentored one of his former male choir students who graduated in 2016. The student regularly visited Ohrt's home, stayed with him while attending college, and traveled with Ohrt to plays and conventions, drinking and smoking marijuana together.
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The victim told prosecutors that at one trip in Kansas City, "he was awakened by Ohrt placing his hand down his pants."
According to prosecutors, the way Ohrt acted when they were along "made him feel uncomfortable and described their relationship as 'conflicted.'"
Investigators said that last October, another man who lived at Ohrt's house gave police four hidden camera devices, two SD cards and a laptop which Ohrt told him had porn, and to destroy the laptop "in a non-public manner."
According to prosecutors, the SD cards had recordings of the victim naked in Ohrt's guest room.
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The FBI is also analyzing the laptop which Ohrt tried to destroy by submerging it in water, police say.
Ohrt's bail has been set at $50,000, and he has been taken to Bucks County Prison. His bail requirements include no contact with the victim or anyone under 18 years old.
Police are asking for any other potential victims, or others with any information on this case, to call them at 215-345-4143.
Grammy Award-winning artist P!NK (Alecia Beth Moore) is a graduate of Central Bucks West and said she took choir classes from Ohrt.
