Sean Dicer

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A former Highlands School District teacher is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting two middle school boys at his home, and now more victims are coming forward, police announced on Monday, Dec. 8.

Sean Dicer, 53, of Brackenridge, is charged after a 16-year-old came forward in November saying Dicer abused him when he was 11 or 12, according to the criminal complaint. The teen told investigators he first met Dicer at a park at age 8 and viewed him as a “father figure,” police wrote at the end of the complaint.

The teen said the abuse began in the summer of 2021 after he brought another Highlands School District student to Dicer’s home, investigators said. Police said the assaults continued at least 10 times and stopped only when school resumed that fall, according to the release.

When the victim threatened to tell someone, Dicer allegedly apologized and offered him “anything he wanted,” police wrote. Investigators say the boy later showed proof of Cash App payments totaling more than $6,000 that Dicer allegedly sent him to stay silent.

The teen victim told investigators the abuse began in the summer of 2021 after he brought another Highlands student to Dicer’s home, police said. According to the complaint, the assaults continued at least 10 times and stopped only when school resumed that fall.

When the victim threatened to tell someone, Dicer allegedly apologized and offered him “anything he wanted,” investigators wrote. Detectives said the teen later showed screenshots of Cash App payments totaling more than $6,000 that Dicer allegedly sent him to stay silent.

A second victim told investigators he was 11 when Dicer abused him, according to police.

Dicer worked for Highlands School District for nearly two decades. His LinkedIn profile states he is “open to work” and lists his experience as a full-time teacher at Highlands School District from August 2002 to January 2022, totaling 19 years and 6 months in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. His Facebook intro says he studied Education at Point Park University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and CCAC, attended Serra Senior High, lives in Brackenridge, and is originally from San Diego, California.

Dicer resigned from Highlands in 2022, the district said. Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said the district follows all required procedures when allegations arise, including ChildLine reporting, cooperating with investigators, enforcing discipline according to policy, and notifying the Pennsylvania Department of Education, according to the statement.

Highlands previously placed another teacher on paid leave in 2018 during what officials called an “employment-related investigation” handled by Monaca-based CSI Investigators, according to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. Multiple students told the station the teacher allegedly had inappropriate contact with students and sent inappropriate messages. The district never released that teacher’s identity, and it remains unclear what the investigation ultimately found. Four teachers at the school have had public reprimands, suspensions, and/or teaching license revocations, according to state records.

The current case began after a ChildLine report was filed in November. Mandeep Gill, director of Children, Youth and Families for Allegheny County, emphasized that victims often disclose abuse months or years after it occurs and that each referral is investigated thoroughly, according to the police.

Dicer is facing 11 felony charges, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual extortion, institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, and indecent assault of a child under 13, police said. 

On Monday, Dec. 8, detectives received information suggesting additional victims may exist following media coverage of Dicer’s arrest. Anyone with information is urged to contact the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.

Dicer is being held in the Allegheny County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 17.

To report suspected child abuse in Pennsylvania, call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.