PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Chester County teacher is facing more than 60 charges after authorities said she had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student and bought him marijuana.
The Chester County District Attorney's Office said Michelle Mercogliano, 35, of Phoenixville, began the relationship with the Conestoga High School student in February.
Mercogliano was a special education aide at Conestoga. According to police, she asked another student for the victim's Snapchat handle earlier in the year, and the two primarily communicated through the app. Investigators said she would pick up the teen from a nearby apartment complex after school and drive him to a dispensary, where she allegedly purchased medical marijuana for him.
Police also said they had sex about a dozen times.
Tredyffrin Township police were alerted earlier this week and launched an investigation in coordination with the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District. Officials said steps were taken to keep Mercogliano away from students.
“This was a calculated course of conduct,” said Tredyffrin Police Chief Mike Beaty. “The allegations are both shocking and disturbing.”
According to a court docket, Mercogliano faces more than 60 total counts of six different charges, including sexual contact with a student and endangering the welfare of children.