Knoch Primary School principal Gregory G. Mandalas, 49, of Butler, is charged with misdemeanor willingly failing to report suspected child abuse as a mandated reporter in a case that relates to charges against his son.

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.

Matthew Mandalas was charged with felony corruption of minors and misdemeanor indecent assault on Aug. 26, 2022. He was 19 years old and the girl was 5 years old at the time of the alleged incident.

Police said the girl’s parents contacted Gregory Mandalas about their daughter’s disclosure on several occasions throughout August. According to police, the parents reached out twice on Aug. 4 and four more times in August.

Gregory Mandalas had knowledge of the alleged incident for 22 days and did not report it, police said in charging documents.

On each of these occasions, police said the principal “failed to ChildLine the suspected abuse.”

ChildLine is a protective services program used to submit tips of suspected child abuse to law enforcement. Mandated reporters are required by their jobs to report suspected abuse. Mandated reporters include teachers, administration, doctors and church workers.

The girl’s parents also contacted another mandated reporter on Aug. 4 about the incident, and that person filed a report, which was seen by state police.

Police say Gregory Mandalas did not file a report after being contacted twice by the parents on Aug. 4 and informed of the girl’s disclosure.

Gregory Mandalas was contacted again by the parents on Aug. 7 about the girl’s disclosure, and he told them he had not spoken to Matthew at that point, police said.

Police said Gregory Mandalas on Aug. 9 was contacted by the parents again about their daughter going to speak with a counselor about the incident.

On Aug. 15, the parents said they reached out to Gregory Mandalas again, informing him that the girl had met with the counselor, police said.

According to the affidavit, Gregory Mandalas told the parents during a conversation on Aug. 20 that he did not believe the girl about her interaction with Matthew, and that there was no evidence against him.

Police said Matthew admitted to the allegations on Aug. 24 and said he had informed his father about the incident with the child.

According to the affidavit, Gregory Mandalas told the mother of the girl to “keep it” between them.

Gregory Mandalas has been placed on indefinite administrative leave with pay, according to Tom Breth, solicitor for Knoch School District.

State police released further information about Gregory Mandalas’ case in a Tuesday morning, May 23, news conference at the Butler barracks.

According to Bertha Cazy, public information officer for Troop D state police, Gregory failed to fulfill his duty as a principal and mandated reporter when he was made aware of the alleged assault and did not report it.

“We emphasize timely reporting to protect others,” she said. “It keeps the victim safe from the alleged actor and future victims safe.”

Mandated reporting can be done online or by calling a 24-hour hotline, 1-800-932-0313.

Cazy said Gregory Mandalas has obtained an attorney and will be turning himself in through the magistrate’s office in Chicora that is handling the case.

According to court documents, Gregory Mandalas will be represented by attorney Christopher M. Capozzi.

A preliminary hearing for Gregory Mandalas is scheduled for June 27.

On Monday, May 22, in a letter to parents of 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.

Breth reiterated on Monday, May 22, that the allegations relate to a minor outside of the school district.

“(Gregory Mandalas) is on leave with pay right now, just because that's the process we have to follow as a school district — initially with pay until he is presented with discipline charges,” he said. “The allegations relating to Mr. Mandalas as set forth in the affidavit of probable cause do not involve the school district or his responsibilities in the school district, other than as a school district administrator he is a mandatory reporter.”

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.

State police filed charges Aug. 26 against Matthew Mandalas after the initial ChildLine report and interviews with witnesses.

Mandalas was arraigned Aug. 26 by District Judge Lewis Stoughton and sent to Butler County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond. Mandalas posted bond that same day, but was required to have no contact with the girl or her family.

According to police, they received a report that claimed the girl had confided in her mother about the incident.

“(The mother) related that Mandalas would have been 19-years-old, and her daughter would have been 5 years old at the time of the sexual abuse,” police said in the affidavit.

Matthew is currently 20 years old.

According to the affidavit in Matthew’s case, the girl told a forensic interviewer on Aug. 15 that Matthew had touched her in an intimate area and then forced her to touch him inappropriately while watching a movie in his basement bedroom.

Police said the mother told investigators the incident happened around Christmas. The mother also told police she remembered the girl and Matthew being in the basement, along with other children.

Matthew’s case is still active in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. A status conference on his case is scheduled in late June.