Former Knoch Primary School principal waives hearing
CHICORA — Former Knoch Primary School principal Gregory G. Mandalas waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday, July 18, after being accused of failing to report suspected child abuse in a case that relates to charges against his son.
Mandalas, 49, of Butler, was charged May 23 with misdemeanor willingly failing to report suspected child abuse as a mandated reporter after state police investigated an August 2022 ChildLine report against his son, Matthew G. Mandalas.
On Tuesday, Gregory Mandalas appeared before District Judge Lewis Stoughton. He was represented by attorney Christopher M. Capozzi.
Gregory Mandalas was placed on paid indefinite administrative leave from the primary school after charges were filed against him. The Knoch school board voted unanimously to approve his retirement at a June 7 work session, and the position of principal was filled July 12.
Gregory Mandalas had served as principal at Knoch Primary School since December 2016, when it was named South Butler Primary School. Before arriving at Knoch, he served as a principal with the Karns City Area School District.
He is scheduled to appear Sept. 5 for formal arraignment in county Common Pleas Court.
Police said the former principal’s charges relate to a ChildLine report received Aug. 8, 2022.
The report showed a 6-year-old female said Matthew Mandalas touched her in an intimate area and then forced her to also touch him inappropriately, according to police.
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 former principal failed to report the suspected abuse to ChildLine.
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, administrators, doctors and church workers.
Police said 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 said Matthew Mandalas admitted to the allegations Aug. 24 and said he had informed his father about the incident with the child.
His case is still in county Common Pleas Court, with a status conference scheduled in September. He is 20 years old.
