Lancaster County and its HS Band Directors

What is up with Lancaster County High School band directors?

The band director at Columbia Junior/Senior High School was arrested Monday, April 8, 2008 for allegedly having an ongoing sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student during the past year.

Robert E. Richards, 33, of 3808 Laurel Drive, Columbia, was charged by police in Columbia and West Hempfield Township with a total of two counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors, as well as one count each of statutory sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault. School officials said Richards was placed on paid leave on Monday.

He was arraigned before District Judge Robert Herman and committed to jail in lieu of $175,000 cash bail, pending a preliminary hearing.The alleged relationship between the band director and student included several sexual encounters, according to court documents, once in the high school and several times in Richards' West Hempfield Township home.

Richards is the THIRD Lancaster County band director to be arrested recently on allegations of having sexual encounters with teenage girls, according to newspaper records.

Recently, Todd Sheerer of Warwick High School in Lititz was arrested. The Warwick High School band director, Sheerer, 29, of Lancaster, is awaiting trial on the charges that he had a sexual relationship with a now 17-year-old student, beginning when she was 16. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing and has been terminated from his job. Michael Wolf of Landisville, who was the Band Director @ Lebanon County Cedar Crest HS was convicted of charges stemming from DEC. 2006. WEIRD and disgusting. The takes the whole idea of that saying from the film American Pie...what I did at Band Camp.... to a whole new level.