Knoch Primary School principal charged in failing to report child abuse in case relating to charges against his son
Knoch Primary School principal Gregory Mandalas has been charged with willfully failing to report child abuse as a mandated reporter in a case that relates to charges against his son, Matthew Mandalas.
Gregory Mandalas, 49, of Butler, was charged Monday, May 22, for willingly failing to report suspected child abuse directly disclosed to him as a mandated reporter. State police released further information in a Tuesday morning press conference.
Gregory Mandalas has been placed for the time being on administrative leave with pay, according to Tom Breth, solicitor for Knoch School District.
According to charging documents released Tuesday, May 23, from state police, the Butler Crime Unit received a report on Aug. 8, 2022, that a 6-year-old female said Matthew G. Mandalas, the son of Gregory, touched her in an intimate area and then forced her to also touch him inappropriately.
Police said the girl’s parents contacted Mandalas twice on August 4, 2022, about their daughter’s words.
“(Mandated reporters) are required to report it in a timely manner, and Mr. (Gregory) Mandalas failed to do this,” Butler state police public information officer, Bertha Cazy said.
She said this can be done through a hotline or online.
“It keeps the victim safe from the alleged actor and future victims safe,” she said.
Cazy said Gregory Mandalas has obtained an attorney and will be turning himself in.
In a Monday afternoon letter to parents of students, the Knoch School District superintendent David Foley said “due to the serious nature of the charges, Dr. Mandalas has been placed on indefinite administrative leave. It is the district’s understanding that the charges and alleged conduct of Dr. Mandalas do not involve a Knoch School District student.”
“This is a confidential personnel matter. Therefore, I am unable to provide specific details at this time. However, I will work with the solicitor’s office to provide as much information as legally permitted moving forward,” Foley said.
Mandalas has served as principal at Knoch Primary School since December 2016, when it was named South Butler Primary School. Prior to arriving at Knoch, Mandalas served as a principal with the Karns City Area School District.
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