A Boy Scout Troop Leader and former teacher at Girard College teacher has been charged with sexual assault of a minor under 13 years old.
According to Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer 68-year-old Keith Steininger has been charged with sexual contact with a student, indecent assault of a person less than 13, unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, and related offenses.
Stollsteimer said Steininger retired from Girard College in July 2022, after a 41-year career where he worked as a teacher and Boy Scout troop leader.
“Sexual contact with a child is always wrong. When an adult entrusted with the care and well-being of children engages in such contact, the affront to society is even deeper. The defendant in this case worked with children, many of whom were particularly vulnerable by virtue of coming to Girard through the foster care system, for more than 41 years. He was placed in a position of particular respect by becoming a Boy Scout troop leader. It is both heartbreaking and deeply disturbing that such an individual would take advantage of a vulnerable child,” said District Attorney Stollsteimer.
Information from the DA’s office said Upland Borough Police received a call on January 25 for a report of a possible sexual assault of a child. The caller, who is a foster parent, reported that her foster child had told her that he had been assaulted for a period of two years between 2018 and 2020 when the victim was just 11-13 years old.
The child told his foster mom that Steininger had touched his private parts, and the assaults started when the boy was a student at Girard College and stayed at Steininger’s residence as part of the Boy Scout program.
The assaults reportedly stopped after the child left Girard College.
On February 27, 2024, police conducted a forensic interview by the Child Advocacy Center of Delaware County.
The victim was reportedly able to provide information about the assaults which included text messages sent by Steininger, and a phone call from him on April 11, when Steininger acknowledged the sexual contact and attempted to apologize.
“Working this type of case is heart-wrenching, and I deeply respect the men and women who work so tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us,“I also must give special credit to the foster parent of the victim, who had the courage and the decency to contact authorities as soon as she became aware of the inappropriate contact by the defendant. It is a testament to the foster parent’s degree of engagement with the victim that he trusted her with this intimate information, and that the victim trusted her to help him navigate the legal process.”, said Stollsteimer.
Given Steininger’s long tenure at Girard College, officials believe there may be other victims of sexual assault out there. If anyone has information, officials urge you to call the Upland Police Department at 610-872-3040 x 207 or Detective Sergeant Steven Bannar of the Criminal Investigations Division at 610-891-4118.
Steininger was arraigned to the Goerge W. Hill Correctional Facility at a bail of 10% of $250,000
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 2, 2024.
