PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A former choir director at Central Bucks West High School has been sentenced to 2 ½ to five years in state prison for indecently assaulting two former students and secretly filming another as he undressed.
Joseph Ohrt, 57, of Buckingham Township, pleaded no contest in October 2022 to two counts each of indecent assault, corruption of minors and invasion of privacy, and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
As part of his plea, Ohrt is required to register as a sex offender for 15 years.
Ohrt was charged in February 2022 after investigators discovered he had secretly recorded a former male student.
According to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Ohrt had mentored the student. The student said some of Ohrt’s actions when they were alone made him feel uncomfortable. He regularly visited Ohrt’s house and, after graduating in 2016, the 19-year-old moved into a spare bedroom at his home.
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The student told investigators Ohrt made inappropriate advances toward him, which he declined. Investigators later found hidden camera devices that had recorded the young man undressing.
Two other victims — both former students — later came forward with sexual assault allegations that occurred in 1991 and 1996, respectively.
Before the sentencing, victims gave statements, calling Ohrt the “lowest of lows.” Another said, “You not only invaded my privacy, but you invaded my entire being.”
The judge told Ohrt that he did not believe he was remorseful or empathetic toward the victims, adding, “You don’t care about anybody but yourself.”
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