IMAGES:
Willie Weber, Former Lycoming County Chief Detective &
Little League World Series Team Host (Uncle) (left),
Daphne L. Bowers, MASD Superintendent (top right), and
Nicole Ippolito, current MASD Solicitor, former Lycoming County ADA (bottom right)
By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com
News@TalkWilliamsport.com
Daphne L. Bowers, Montgomery Area School District Superintendent now has a new part-time school police officer in her district.
A law enforcement official her husband Dr. Timothy Bowers Williamsport Area School District Superintendent is quite familiar with.
Former Lycoming County Chief Detective Willie Weber was hired as a part-time school police officer by the Montgomery Area School District at the July 19, 2022 MASD school board meeting.
Weber was one of six individuals named as Defendants in a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed yesterday by a former Williamsport Area High School black baseball player who was the victim of an indecent sexual assault by a white teammate during the 2018 team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
From the Federal Court filing:
“Weber is sued in his official and individual capacities for his actions and/or inactions
made under color of state law and in violation of Plaintiff’s Constitutional rights
as described more fully herein.”
Upon receiving the unredacted Office of Attorney General Search Warrants last year, Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner announced the “retirement” of Willie Weber from his office.
From the Federal Court filing:
- In a report that Defendant Weber would author almost five months later in October 2018—the first and only time he drafted an investigative report related to the assault of Plaintiff—Weber recalls informing CYS in mid-May 2018 that he would look into the matter due to his “familiarity” with the WAHS baseball program since his son was previously a member of the Millionaires and Weber himself attended the Myrtle Beach tournament for three years.
- Defendant Weber also wrote that he informed Defendant Pardoe that Weber had no jurisdiction over what happened in Myrtle Beach, “but would assist and make referrals if need be.” Weber also told Pardoe that he was “aware of the trip and what usually goes on during the annual trip.”
- Both Defendant Pardoe and Defendant Weber are also mandated reporters pursuant to 63 Pa.C.S. § 6311, et seq. Neither ever made a report to Child Line concerning what they learned from CYS.
- Upon information and belief, it was also at this time in May 2018 that Defendant Weber gained possession of at least one of the videos depicting the assaults. However, Weber did not take any further action despite also being a mandated reporter and law enforcement official. Weber did not so much as even communicate the allegations of criminal sexual conduct to a single prosecutor in the LC DA’s Office at or around the time he received the report.
- Moreover, Weber did not forward the video in his possession to the Myrtle Beach Police Department (“MBPD”) nor contact them about the allegations, despite the MBPD being the proper law enforcement entity to have jurisdiction over the criminal behavior of B.M. in South Carolina.
On background, Weber and Nicole Ippolito, current MASD Solicitor and former Lycoming County Assistant District Attorney worked together for former Lycoming County District Attorneys Eric Linhardt (now a Lycoming County Common Pleas Court Judge) and Ken Osokow.
Current Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner defeated Nicole Ippolito in the 2019 primary; unofficial vote totals were, Gardner, 9,948, and Ippolito, 8,133.
Ippolito currently works for McNerney Page Vanderlin & Hall; the same law firm as Fred Holland, WASD Solicitor.
McNerney Page Vanderlin & Hall is representing former WAHS baseball coach Ryan Miller in litigation against the author of this article.
Miller is one of six individuals named as Defendants in a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed yesterday by a former Williamsport Area High School black baseball player who was the victim of an indecent sexual assault by a white teammate during the 2018 team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Miller joins Holland and Weber as three of six individuals named as Defendants in a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed yesterday by a former Williamsport Area High School black baseball player who was the victim of an indecent sexual assault by a white teammate during the 2018 team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina .
Calls to Nicole Ippolito, current MASD Solicitor at her McNerney Page Vanderlin & Hall office were not responded to as she is “out of the office this week.”
A message was left for Grant Evangelisti MASD District Business Manager and Board Secretary earlier today; at this writing it has gone unanswered.
On background, the Bowers own the The Barn at Greystone Farm in Watsontwon, Pennsylvania, it is primarily used as a wedding venue.
According to a May 22, 2022 post and photo gallery on the The Barn at Greystone Farm Facebook page; the venue hosted the wedding of Kelli Vasallo.
From a December 2018 PennLive.com article: “Lycoming County Judge Marc F. Lovecchio Thursday sentenced Kelli S. Vassallo, 38, of Williamsport, who in August had pleaded guilty to charges of institutional sexual assault and corruption of a minor.
She admitted having indecent contact with a 13-year-old girl beginning in June 2013 while she was a coach and having sex in 2009 with a girl who was then 17.
She must register as a sexual offender for 25 years and while on probation, perform 100 hours of community service.
Assistant District Attorney Nicole M. Ippolito accused Vassallo of lying and said the two victims were prepared to go to trial.”
The article goes onto say; “The judge (Marc Lovecchio) accepted the plea only after Vassallo, who taught in the Williamsport district and coached girls basketball in the Loyalsock Twp. district from 2012 to 2015, said: “I am not lying to you.”
This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.
