When Williamsport Athletic Director Sean McCann told a concerned parent who inquired about the Myrtle Beach case; “we dealt with it immediately, when we learned of it”, did he inadvertently let the closely held secret out of the bag?
The documented record uncovered during the TalkWilliamsport.com investigation seems to support that premise.
The web untangled in a major way on Saturday, May 9, 2020:
According to the RADIO SHOW CALLER CLAIMS in PART XVI:
“I like know specifically what happened there and
the people involved knew instantaneously after it happened.
The parents of everyone involved knew instantaneously after it happened.
There’s was no cover-up.
It’s not, it’s not the general public’s business what happened there.
The parents of everyone involved knew.
I agree that the student involved should have never been allowed back on the high school baseball team, but there was no cover-up.”
The family of JOHN DOE #1 was not in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina since they had not made the trip.
However, the family of ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the photos at local bars posted to social media, verify that.
Background for this story, on February 17, 2015, Sean McCann was Named Region II Athletic Director of the Year.
On further background for this story and as referenced in “A Baseball Story In The Birthplace Of Little League Baseball” – PART I
“According to documentation obtained from the Williamsport Area School District through a Right to Know Law Request,
the only adult supervisors that had provided clearances and passed background checks were;
District states: here is the list Item 1 – Travel List Team Coaches of district employees, coaches, and volunteers who either accompanied the team to Myrtle Beach or were present as parents.
Numbers 1-6 were coaches or volunteer coaches.
Number 7 was a volunteer statistician.
Numbers 8-9 are district employees who also had children on the team.
- Ryan Miller (Head Baseball Coach)
- David Heller
- Tariq Moore
- Kyle Schneider
- Nick Caringi
- Joel Worthington
- Randy Zangara
- Brandon Pardoe (WAHS Head High School Principal)
- Sean McCann (WAHS Athletic Director)
NO ROOM LIST AND NO CHAPERONES
As part of the Appeal from RTKL Denial of Williamsport Area School District undertaken by Talk Williamsport filed with the OOR on August 8, 2019, the WASD under the penalty of perjury offered the following answers from Wanda Erb, in an affidavit on October 8, 2019:
I, Wanda Erb, hereby declare, pursuant to 18 Pa. CS 4904, that the following statements are true and correct based upon my personal knowledge information and belief:
6. Regarding Requestor’s fourth request, all of the chaperones on the trip were district employees, coaches, or volunteer coaches. No other adult chaperones accompanied the baseball team to Myrtle Beach.
From the June 17, 2019 RTKL Request
2). The hotel room assignments as outlined by the WASD Baseball Coaching Staff for the baseball team trip to Myrtle Beach during the 2017-2018 school year.
WASD Responded in the July 18, 2019 RTKL denial
- Hotel room assignments – Denied because no record exists.
The WASD Baseball team trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina did not have a hotel room assignment list at the Atlantica Resort with no adult chaperones and only the district employees, coaches, or volunteer coaches.
Talk Williamsport has independently confirmed
the two administrators did not stay on property at the Atlantica Resort.
Talk Williamsport appealed the WASD July 18, 2019 RTKL denial
As filed by Terry Mutchler on behalf of Talk Williamsport :
Requester’s position: The District must provide a statement made under penalty of perjury, detailing its good faith effort to ascertain this record. See 65 P.S. § 67.901 (requiring the AORO to undertake a “good faith effort”); see also Hous. Auth. of the City of Pittsburgh v. Van Osciol, 40 A.3d 209, 216 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012) (unsworn statements are not competent evidence).
Again, Wanda Erb in the October 8, 2019 affidavit offered the following response:
4. Regarding Requestor’s second request, I conducted a thorough examination of files in the possession, custody and control of the Agency for records responsive to the request.
As these types of records would be in the possession of the athletic director or head coach, I spoke with WASD Athletic Director Sean McCann and former head baseball coach Ryan Miller.
At the time the request was made (6-17-19 original RTK request), neither Mr. McCann nor Mr. Miller had any record identifying which players were assigned to which hotel room.
Accordingly, I have made the determination that the records requested are not within the Agency’s possession, custody or control.
So how was an email which is provably and documented as sent; not be on a school email server?
The same email sent to Drew Dickey was copied to Rae Ann Pardoe, WAHS head principal, Brandon Pardoe, WAHS athletic director, Sean McCann and then WAHS head baseball coach Ryan Miller.
To date, Rae Anne Pardoe has been the only person to produce said email through the PA Right to Know Law as referenced in “A Baseball Story In The Birthplace Of Little League Baseball – PART XXIII.”
OH THE IRONY!
According to the RTKL response provided to Talkwilliamsport.com on Monday, November, 9, 2020 by Dr. Mark Stamm, Superintendent of Schools for the South Williamsport Area School District, Rae Ann Pardoe received the “room assignments” e-mail on March 18, 2018.
The documents were obtained through the RTKL due to the fact Rae Ann Pardoe was using her @swasd.org e-mail account.
The e-mails obtained are heavily redacted, with the exclusion of her e-mail and that of former head baseball coach Ryan Miller, who was not the sender.
Since TalkWilliamsport.com exposed the secret and the cover-up the mindset changed to attack the author and marginalize him; just like the FAMILY OF JOHN DOE #1 at the outset of the incident in Myrtle Beach.
From PART XVI
CAMPAIGN TO MARGINALIZE TALK WILLIAMSPORT CONTINUES
Even as PART XIII and PART XIV were published, WASD administrators were still trying to persuade concerned parents that this series is all a myth.
Williamsport Area High School Athletic Director Sean McCann who was in Myrtle Beach as noted in this series; authored a recent e-mail to a WASD parent who voiced concerns after reading Part XIII and Part XIV.
The e-mail to the concerned parent has been provided to Talk Williamsport.
“The author of these articles is way out of line and has severely exaggerated the information.
We dealt with it immediately, when we learned of it,
it was never shared on social media as he believes in his writings.
We met with the mother the day after we learned of things and
worked with the family for over an entire year.
It was dealt with and the unfortunate thing,
this author keeps bringing it up, keeps hurting the kids,
bringing it up all this time afterwards just keeps hurting the kids,
that’s the frustrating thing.”
–Sean
This is where the secret leaks out since the mother of ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and would have been able to have been met with.
More on that later, in her own words as told by WAHS Principal Brandon Pardoe.
LYCOMING COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RYAN GARDNER PRESS RELEASE
DESTROYS MCCANN AND WASD NARRATIVE
The full press release is available by clicking this link to PART XV
According to Sean McCann, WASD athletic director, the video depicting “criminal sexual misconduct”;
“The author of these articles is way out of line and has severely exaggerated the information.”
“…it was never shared on social media as he believes in his writings.”
From the Gardner press release:
“Despite the logistical inability to interview the juvenile due to COVID-19, this office in the interim has confirmed the following:
1. A video depicting criminal sexual misconduct does exist.
Pursuant to information received, this video originated in South Carolina with subsequent possession, dissemination and viewing of same potentially occurring in the state of Pennsylvania.
2. Because the sexual misconduct occurred in the state of South Carolina, the filing of any criminal charges against the actor depicted in the video for the act itself must be filed in South Carolina.”
Editor’s Note: dissemination is defined as: noun –
“the action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely”
Editor’s Note: viewing of same is defined as: noun –
“the action of inspecting or looking at something”
From PART XVIII
LITTLE LEAGUE COMPLEX HOSTED 2018 MILLIONAIRES BASEBALL BANQUET
Talk Williamsport has obtained photographic evidence the cafeteria area located in the Little League headquarters building was used as the venue to celebrate the 2018 Williamsport Millionaires baseball team.
Individuals appearing in multiple photos are Nick Caringi, former Williamsport assistant baseball coach and Little League employee as well as current head coach Kyle Schneider, assistant baseball coach Joel Worthington, athletic director Sean McCann, Jamie Joy, Little League employee seated at the same table with his father-in-law criminal defense attorney George Lepley.
Putting the statement in context, the Lepley letter of May 31, 2018 makes perfect sense when you apply it to the FAMILY OF ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 and ignore the actual victims like JOHN DOE #1 and JOHN DOE #2.
We met with the mother (of ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1) the day after we learned of things and
worked with the family (of ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1) for over an entire year.
From PART XIX – “The Millionaire Way”
Criminal defense attorney George Lepley most likely knows the answer to the central question in this series and memorialized those facts in a letter to WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe and Athletic Director Sean McCann on May 31, 2018.
Rachel Lepley Joy is the wife of Little League International employee Jamie Joy and the daughter of George Lepley.
All of these adults were in Myrtle Beach as part of the 2018 Williamsport Millionaire baseball team trip.
The e-mails outlined in this article and the Lepley letter of May 31, 2018 completely contradict the narrative put forth by the WASD in their January 9, 2020 statement provided in part below.
“It is important to note that the district first became aware of this incident after law enforcement had already been contacted and a ChildLine report made. The report to ChildLine was not duplicated by the district, as it had already been reported.
The district’s investigation was conducted by the high school principal, district administrators and district legal counsel. Once it became clear which students were and were not involved in the incident, it was apparent that the high school principal had no personal conflict of interest or personal relationships with the students involved. The principal was permitted by the district’s solicitor to participate in the investigation, and his actions were appropriate and thorough. As an added measure of diligence, a second administrator also participated in the investigation.”
Revisiting the assertion put forward by an athletic director who nearly three years to the day he received a “room assignment” from a fellow baseball parent has yet to produce it in a Right to Know law request.
“We dealt with it immediately, when we learned of it,”
–Sean (McCann), WASD athletic director
Editor’s Note: immediately is defined as: adverb –
“at once; instantly. Similar: straight away, at once, right away, right now”
“without any intervening time or space”
Even with the Childline call of May 18, 2018, the timeline does not support the McCann assertion; “We dealt with it immediately, when we learned of it.”
More from PART XIX – “The Millionaire Way”
12-DAY DELAY WHILE THOSE INVOLVED STILL PLAYED
Information developed and obtained by talkwilliamsport.com through the Right to Know Law shows a 12-day delay in the start of the investigation by the WASD.
The Childline call was placed by a mandated reporter on May 18, 2018.
As noted in PART III of this series:
The family of JOHN DOE #1 having received notification of the ChildLine call themselves, placed a call to WAHS Assistant Principal Roger Freed on May 21, 2018 at 9:34 a.m. inquiring about the situation.
Freed pleads ignorance to the ChildLine call and asserts to the family of JOHN DOE #1 “he has no knowledge of the incident in Myrtle Beach.”
On May 24, 2018 – Williamsport defeats West Scranton at Bucknell University, 14-2 in Round 2 of the 2018 District II/IV Baseball 6A Sub-regional.
In the meeting it was disclosed by the family of JOHN DOE #1, “the video speaks for itself”.
On May 28, 2018 – Williamsport defeats Hazleton at PNC Park, 4-3 in the 2018 District II/IV Baseball 6A Sub-regional Final.
On June 4, 2018, WASD Solicitor Fred Holland submitted an invoice for services rendered of 0.80 hours and noted that a telephone conference occurred on May 31, 2018.
The May 31, 2018 telephone conference Holland referred to as “Investigation”, and included High School Principal Brandon Pardoe (who was on the trip to Myrtle Beach), Lepley and Holland who again referred to the call as “pending investigations”.
Editor’s Note: pending is defined as: adjective – “awaiting decision or settlement.”
preposition – “until (something) happens or takes place.”
On June 4, 2018 – Williamsport defeats Downingtown East at Central Columbia HS, 4-1 in the 2018 PIAA Baseball 6A First Round.
WASD Solicitor Fred Holland submitted a second invoice on July 3, 2018 for a meeting that he attended on June 5, 2018 in regard to a VM (later identified by WASD as voicemail).
The WASD has stated that the voicemail record no longer exists.
The family of JOHN DOE #1 has confirmed to FSW, the voicemail in question was left by them.
It occurred at 11:26 a.m. the morning of June 5, 2018 and a follow-up call was placed to the family of JOHN DOE #1 at 12:52 p.m. WASD officials cited FERPA as the reason the family of JOHN DOE #1 would not be receiving any additional information about the incident.
That same day, June 5, 2018 WASD Solicitor Fred Holland attended a meeting with Lepley and Pardoe which lasted for 1.8 hours. That is the billing total Holland submitted to the WASD.
When TalkWilliamsport.com attempted to confirm the time and location of the June 5, 2018 meeting with the WASD, Wanda Erb responded via e-mail
Wanda Erb <werb@wasd.org>
Friday, December 20, 2019 at 9:32 AM,
Mr. Bartley, Good morning. I received your phone message late yesterday afternoon. As you are aware, the Right to Know Law (RTKL) requires requests for information to be submitted in writing.
Please complete the RTKL request form found at https://www.wasd.org/data/StreamFile.aspx?loc=secureFiles&file=RTKRequestForm.pdf.
After I receive the completed form, the district will respond based upon whether this information is available under the RTKL.
Sincerely, Wanda
Wanda M. Erb, SFO, PCSBA, Business Administrator, Williamsport Area School District
FSW confirmed with the Law office of George Lepley the meeting was held at 2 p.m. at Williamsport Area High School on June 5, 2018.
According to the family of JOHN DOE #1, June 5, 2018 was the last time they had any communication from the WASD in regard to the Myrtle Beach incident.
On June 7, 2018 –Bensalem defeats Williamsport at Pine Grove, Walter Stump Stadium 6-0, in the 2018 PIAA Baseball 6A Second Round.
According to the WASD, Sean McCann was involved with the in-person interview of JOHN DOE #1 on May 30, 2018.
May 18, 2018 until May 30, 2018 for a next day meeting?
Continuing with PART XIX – “The Millionaire Way”:
AGENT WEBER MEETING IN BRANDON PARDOE’S OFFICE
Prior to the meeting on May 30, 2018 the calendar program used by Dr. Pardoe reflects multiple meeting invitations for the following obtained through RTKL requests:
Subject: (Redacted) Mother and Agent Weber Meeting
Location: Brandon’s office
Start: Wed 5/30/18 9:00 AM
End: Wed 5/30/18 10:00 AM
Show Time as: Tentative
Recurrence: (none)
Meeting Status: Accepted
Organizer: Brandon Pardoe
Required Attendees: Roger W. Freed, Sean McCann
Pardoe notes on the invitation, “I scheduled with Will Weber for this day. Please plan to attend. Thanks, BP”
The WASD has yet to provide an e-mail outlining the directive from WASD Solicitor to WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe giving him permission to conduct the investigation.
Is it possible, the e-mails below outline a different story and thus making that narrative a bit of revisionist history on the part of the WASD?
The e-mail threads begin on May 30, 2018, 12 full days after the original Childline call and after a pair of District II baseball playoff games including the District Final at PNC Field.
From: Rachel Joy (e-mail address redacted by WASD)
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 2:04 PM
To: Brandon Pardoe (e-mail address redacted by author)
Subject: Meeting
“Hey Brandon:
(Redacted) contacted us regarding the meeting you’d like to set up. George would like to be present.
He is unavailable all day Friday but we have some pockets of time tomorrow we could probably make work.
1030 or 1-2?”
Rachel Lepley Joy
Paralegal to George E. Lepley, Jr.
LEPLEY, ENGLEMAN & YAW, LLC
140 East Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
PARDOE INFORMS DR. BOWERS AND SUSIE NEIDIG OF INVESTIGATION
WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe then informs Superintendent Dr. Timothy Bowers and his secretary Susie Neidig in the evening hours of May 30, 2018 of details about the “investigation.”
Subject: FW: Meeting
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 8:22:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Brandon Pardoe
To: Timothy Bowers
CC: Susan A. Neidig
Priority: High
“We started the investigation with regard to the video taken on the Myrtle Beach trip after speaking with the parent and student today. I can give you more information if we could talk. I contacted the home of (redacted) who is the student that was videoed doing the act to the other student. I requested to meet with them with their son. They appear to be getting an attorney to meet as well. I would imagine that this is something that we would want to reach out to our solicitor about and update to join in a mutual meeting. I do have a recommendation for the interim until we can meet that I would like to run by you.
If we can talk tomorrow that would be great.”
Brandon Pardoe, Ed.D
Head Principal
Williamsport Area High School
2990 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (redacted by author)
WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe tells Superintendent Dr. Timothy Bowers and his secretary Susie Neidig;
“I can give you more information if we could talk.”
How much “more information” does Pardoe need to relay to Bowers and Neidig that is unsafe for an e-mail?
Would it be the idea of no paper trail?
Is it the same reason Detective Weber waited 5 months to file a formal report, only after the Myrtle Beach Police Department requested it?
When Pardoe adds:
“I do have a recommendation for the interim until we can meet that I would like to run by you.”
Is this his Graham Spanier moment from the Jerry Sandusky case?
From the CBS News report, June 30, 2012 “Report: Ex-Penn State head OK’d not reporting Sandusky”:
If Sandusky is cooperative, Curley’s email said, “we would work with him. …. If not, we do not have a choice and will inform the two groups,” according to the report.
Spanier wrote back and agreed with that approach,
calling it “humane and a reasonable way to proceed,” according to the report.
But he also worried about the consequences.
“The only downside for us is if message isn’t `heard’ and acted upon and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it, but that can be assessed down the road,” the email said, according to CNN.
WASD SOLICITOR FRED HOLLAND CAUGHT IN CONTRADICTION
How does WASD Solicitor Fred Holland give WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe permission to do an investigation when Pardoe according to the e-mail thread above, notified Holland?
Moments after informing WASD Superintendent Dr. Bowers of the initiation of the “investigation”, Pardoe authors a rather interesting e-mail to Rachel Joy.
Does Pardoe not have the easily accessible online e-mail address of Attorney George Lepley; or is it just two old friends having a conversation?
From: Brandon Pardoe (redacted by author)
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 8:24 PM
To: Rachel Joy
Subject: Re: Meeting
“I certainly need to brief the superintendent about this matter. Being that (redacted)s seeking counsel to join a meeting then we will need to do the same most likely. I am sure we will be in touch.
Thank you,”
Brandon Pardoe, Ed.D
Head Principal
Williamsport Area High School
2990 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (redacted by author)
Had Pardoe not already briefed the Superintendent when he e-mail Rachel Joy he needed to?
Why is that fact being shared with the law firm representing ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1?
The next morning Rachel Joy and Brandon Pardoe exchanged e-mails trying to pin down a meeting time, now 13 days removed from the Childline call of May 18, 2020.
From: Rachel Joy (e-mail address redacted by WASD)
Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2018 at 7:55 AM
To: Brandon Pardoe (e-mail address redacted by author)
Subject: Meeting
“Thank you for your response. It’s our understanding there’s a request for a meeting with (redacted) this morning at 11:46. George asked me to find out if this is related to the Myrtle Beach trip And if so if it can be rescheduled to 1 o’clock as he is in court at 11:46.
Sent from my iPhone”
When Joy relays the message to Pardoe, “George asked me to find out if this is related to the Myrtle Beach trip”; does this mean there are other concerns or complaints about ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 Lepley is dealing with?
Pardoe, then responds to Joy copying Bowers and Neidig and excluding at minimum McCann and Freed who sat in the intake interview with JOHN DOE #1.
Subject: Re: Meeting
Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2018 at 8:30:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Brandon Pardoe
To: Rachel Joy
CC: Timothy Bowers
BCC: Susan A. Neidig
“Rachael,
Nothing has been scheduled and I have not heard back from the (redacted). The only correspondence that I have received is from you. If George is going to attend then the district will have to have representation present. This will take some coordination to make this happen. Again, I can only really speak with the parents at this point. If George would attend a meeting with parents and we do not have representation then the meeting won’t happen.”
Brandon Pardoe, Ed.D
Head Principal
Williamsport Area High School
2990 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (redacted by author)
Pardoe states, “If George is going to attend then the district will have to have representation present. This will take some coordination to make this happen.”
Who was Pardoe coordinating with to “make this happen”?
Was the interim recommendation to suspend those involved from baseball activities immediately?
So, JOHN DOE #1 sits down for an intake interview as a victim of an incident of “criminal sexual misconduct” on video and ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 has the ability to have his parents go first before being interviewed to tell his side of the story with an attorney present?
This is proper procedure, how?
Subject: RE: Meeting
From: Rachel Joy
Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2018 at 8:32:41 AM
To: Brandon Pardoe
“That was our understanding as well (redacted) contacted us early this morning indicating (redacted) was scheduled for a meeting at 11:46. We wanted to simply confirm it was not related. Thanks.”
Rachel Lepley Joy
Paralegal to George E. Lepley, Jr.
LEPLEY, ENGLEMAN & YAW, LLC
140 East Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
What was the 11:46 a.m. meeting about and with whom?
The existence of a letter authored by George Lepley was confirmed by this author and was immediately requested through the Right to Know law and through the special counsel hired by the WASD.
Attorney George Lepley was contacted for this story and when confronted with the existence of said letter he stated, “I never wrote a letter, there is no letter.”
When confronted with the content of the letter, he added, “I would never threaten the school district.”
The letter authored by George Lepley obtained through the Right to Know Law, dated May 31, 2018 was not previously provided in the RTKL mediation conducted with the WASD last year and appears as follows:
Brandon Pardoe, Principal
Williamsport Area High School
2990 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Shawn McCann, Athletic Director
Williamsport Area High School
2990 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Re: Misconduct Myrtle Beach
Dear Brandon and Shawn:
I have been contacted by (redacted by WASD), parents of ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 (editor added) (redacted by WASD) regarding potential criminal charges (the rest of this sentence was redacted by WASD) followed by between 10 and 11 lines which are also redacted by the WASD.
Within the redacted lines, Lepley outlines a plan that if his client ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 is treated any differently than any other student in the room during what has been confirmed to be “criminal sexual misconduct” in Myrtle Beach then his firm would seek legal remedies as well as the unmasking of the identity of those students.
The letter concludes, “It is my understanding you wish to have a meeting with ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 (editor added) (redacted by WASD) and his parents. Please note, I will be present at that meeting and therefore would kindly appreciate notice of same.
Sincerely, LEPLEY, ENGLEMAN & YAW, LLC George E. Lepley, Jr. Esquire”
The other students in the room at the time of the “criminal sexual misconduct” as characterized by Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner, included the nephew of Brandon Pardoe.
That fact alone should have led to a recusal by Pardoe from any involvement in the “investigative process.”
The method of delivery and specific date of delivery of the Lepley letter have yet to be confirmed by the WASD.
How did a letter to the WASD from the attorney for ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 include the unredacted words “Misconduct Myrtle Beach” and “potential criminal charges”; end up as “indecent and inappropriate behavior” unless adults worked it out amongst themselves?
Is it the same way Penn State administrators try to explain away the behavior of Jerry Sandusky as “horseplay.”
PARDOE INFORMS STUDENTS OF PUNISHMENTS – KEEPS JOHN DOE#1 IN THE DARK
WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe in an e-mail on June 1, 2018 informs Superintendent Bowers of his intentions for punishments until the investigations were concluded.
Date: June 1, 2018 4:53 AM
From: Brandon Pardoe
To: Timothy Bowers
Subject: Baseball
“No Bowman Field! First round of State playoffs will be held at Central Columbia HS on Monday, June 4 at 6 PM.
Unbelievable!
Also, a meeting has been arranged with the (redacted) family for June 5, 2018 at 2 PM and their attorney.
Fred will be attending.
I plan to contact family today to inform them that their son is (redacted) until the investigation is complete.
I am also going to follow up with the student, (redacted) (student who took video) today and parent to inform them that he will be in the same status.
I had a conversation with the mother of (redacted).
I know that Fred has spoken to George regarding the matter.
In addition, Agent Weber contacted me yesterday to let me know that he as well has spoken to George Lepley about the incident.
It is my understanding that both of these conversations went well.”
Brandon Pardoe, Ed.D
Head Principal
Williamsport Area High School
2990 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (redacted by author)
How in any real world scenario does an investigator with a shred of credibility render an opinion to a superior during an ongoing investigation regarding conversations with the attorney for ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 who was under criminal investigation for allegedly committing “criminal sexual misconduct”?
Prior to interviewing ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 in any substantive way, Pardoe rendered the following verdict via e-mail:
“I know that Fred has spoken to George regarding the matter. In addition, Agent Weber contacted me yesterday to let me know that he as well has spoken to George Lepley about the incident.
It is my understanding that both of these conversations went well.”
So before ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 sat down for an interview with Pardoe or Weber, his lawyer had intervened and as previously noted sent a letter to the WASD threatening legal recourse if any real action was taken against him.
To date, no e-mails or other communications from the WASD have been provided showing former Head Coach Ryan Miller was ever contacted during the investigation by Pardoe.
Is it normal procedure to exclude the head coach of the team where an incident occurred when the name of the coach is on the hotel receipts; or is it just one more example of everyone knew in Myrtle Beach so there was no reason to call or reach out?
Was the narrative already agreed upon before the June 5, 2018 meeting that no punishment from the baseball team would be forthcoming for ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1?
When the suspension for the remainder of the state playoffs was handed down, weeks after the original Childline call was placed and after the threatening Lepley letter issued – is this why the parents of ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 stormed out of the June 5, 2018 meeting?
Was the anger directed at Pardoe who had already assured everyone for months this case would never see the light of day?
Was the anger directed at Lepley for being unable to stave off any punishment, as meaningless as it appears to be?
Was the anger of the parents at the perceived loss of a medal for the PIAA State Championship that the Millionaires were going to win in 2018?
Only the Millionaires did not win the PIAA State Championship in 2018, instead they lost in the 2nd round of the state playoffs with the specter of the greatest baseball scandal since Carl Stotz left Little League over philosophical differences.
On the bright side, ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 and VIDEOGRPHER #1 each received District II championship medals in 2018.
The morning of June 1, 2018 Superintendent Bowers replied to Pardoe:
Date: June 1, 2018 6:42 AM
From: Timothy Bowers
To: Brandon Pardoe
Subject: Baseball
“Ok thanks for the follow-up”
Sent from my iPhone
WERE ACTUAL PUNISHMENTS IMPOSED?
Why was VIDEOGRAPHER #1 punished prior to ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 who committed the act as noted by WAHS Head Principal Dr. Brandon Pardoe?
Was the punishment suspension from the state baseball playoffs, both having already received District II Championship medals?
Why were ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 and VIDEOGRAPHER #1 never brought before the WASD school board for a disciplinary hearing for possible expulsion in contradiction of well established policies?
Why were ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 and VIDEOGRAPHER #1 given the same punishment when ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 was facing possible criminal charges?
Was it another baseball courtesy?
Why if actual punishments were imposed did Wanda Erb, WASD Right to Know Officer and Jeff Rowe, Attorney for WASD in RTKL mediation give contradictory responses when asked by Terry Mutchler, Attorney for this author?
Jeff Rowe was elected in November 2019 as a Magisterial District Judge for the Lewisburg area in Union County.
NONE OF THE WASD MANDATED REPORTERS CALLED THE MBPD
Out of all of the mandated reporters in these meetings and in the obtained e-mail threads; why did none of them contact the Myrtle Beach Police Department, considering their jurisdiction over the “criminal sexual misconduct” aspect of the case?
Those mandated reporters include:
Lycoming County Detective – Willie Weber
WAHS Head Principal – Dr. Brandon Pardoe
WAHS 9th Grade Principal – Roger Freed
WAHS Athletic Director – Sean McCann
WASD Solicitor – Fred Holland
WASD Superintendent – Dr. Timothy Bowers
WASD Assistant Superintendent – Dr. Susan Bigger
WASD Executive Secretary to Superintendent Bowers – Susie Neidig
Attorney George Lepley (also serves as a West End baseball coach making him a mandated reporter)
In any of the meetings, e-mails, phone calls or texts did any one of these people or anyone else bring up the idea of calling the Myrtle Beach Police Department?
If so, were they overruled or threatened?
The Lepley letter of May 31, 2018 leads to only one conclusion.
Everyone in a leadership capacity on the trip, knew of the “criminal sexual misconduct” incident while in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
From PART XXII
THE PARTY AT THE BEACH HOUSE IN GARDEN CITY, SOUTH CAROLINA
How did so many Williamsport Area High School baseball players get from the Atlantica Resort (team hotel) in Myrtle Beach to a rented beach house in Garden City, South Carolina?
Was it by Susquehanna Trailways bus?
Was it by car?
Did parents transport their own children?
Were the WAHS administrators aware of this get together?
Was it communicated by phone call or text message?
WHERE IS WAHS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SEAN McCANN?
(Front) Cody Shimp, Tori Shimp, Cam Pardoe, WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe,
(back right) Caleb Joy, Jamie Joy
(Upper Left) WAHS Athletic Director Sean McCann, Tyler McCann,
Tanner Esposito, Sam Esposito, Quentin Brown, Kevin Brown,
also pictured, Ethen Stryker, Isaac Snyder, Cameron Dickey, Ryan Jolin and others.
So if the WAHS administrators (Pardoe and McCann) are in Garden City, South Carolina 11 miles from the Atlantica Resort, where are all the WAHS baseball coaches?
Several WAHS coaches are photographed out on the town around the same time as the party noted above.
Was WAHS head coach Ryan Miller aware of where at least ten of his players were?
WAHS assistant baseball coaches David Heller, Tariq Moore, Kyle Schneider,
head coach Ryan Miller and WAHS assistant baseball coach Joel Worthington
So with WAHS administrators (Pardoe and McCann) in Garden City, South Carolina and the bulk of the WAHS coaches out on the town; who had eyes on the rest of the WAHS baseball players?
From PART XXIII
THE BLAME GAME BEGAN WITH THE FIRST RTKL REQUEST
WAHS athletic director Sean McCann authored an e-mail to former WAHS Ryan Miller and copied Erb, Superintendent Dr. Timothy Bowers and head principal Brandon Pardoe requesting the room list from Miller on Thursday, July 11, 2019, 2018 at 2:02 p.m.
“Good Afternoon. I have been asked by our Business Administrator and Right to Know Officer, Wanda Erb to contact you regarding a recent right to know request received by the district.”
McCann goes onto say, “Also, Ryan
- Do you have a copy or any records of the rooming lists, from the 2018 trip for the lodging?
- Do you have a copy of the travel list, who went on the trip for players and coaches in writing?
Thank you for your willingness to comply with this request.
–Sean”
This is laughable since McCann already received the very room assignment list and e-mail he was then asking Miller to produce.
Was McCann unable to produce it because he already deleted it?
When reading the e-mail, why did Brandon Pardoe not chime in with the fact he received it as well?
From PART XXIV
From PART XIX – “The Millionaire Way” unredacted information is now underlined:
PARDOE INFORMS STUDENTS OF PUNISHMENTS – KEEPS JOHN DOE#1 IN THE DARK
WAHS Head Principal Brandon Pardoe in an e-mail on June 1, 2018 informs Superintendent Bowers of his intentions for punishments until the investigations were concluded.
Date: June 1, 2018 4:53 AM
From: Brandon Pardoe
To: Timothy Bowers
Subject: Baseball
“No Bowman Field! First round of State playoffs will be held at Central Columbia HS on Monday, June 4 at 6 PM.
Unbelievable!
Also, a meeting has been arranged with the (redacted-1) family for June 5, 2018 at 2 PM and their attorney.
Fred will be attending.
(editor’s note: redacted-1 is ALLEGED PERPETRATOR#1)
I plan to contact family today to inform them that their son is suspended from practice and play until the investigation is complete.
I am also going to follow up with the student, (redacted-2) (student who took video) today and parent to inform them that he will be in the same status.
(editor’s note: redacted-2 is VIDEOGRAPHER #1, he will be in the same status as ALLEGED PERPETRATOR#1)
I had a conversation with the mother of (redacted-3) yesterday.
(editor’s note: redacted-3 is mother of ALLEGED PERPETRATOR#1)
She was very defensive and freely utilized the idea that a meeting with their son will not occur unless they and George Lepley are present.
I know that Fred has spoken to George regarding the matter.
In addition, Agent Weber contacted me yesterday to let me know that he as well has spoken to George Lepley about the incident.
It is my understanding that both of these conversations went well.”
Brandon Pardoe, Ed.D
Head Principal
Williamsport Area High School
2990 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (redacted by author)
These revelations from the redactions being removed again raise serious questions in the timeline being put forward by Dr. Pardoe and the WASD.
In an e-mail dated June 1, 2018, Dr. Pardoe says, “I had a conversation with the mother of (redacted-1) editor’s note: ALLEGED PERPETRATOR#1 – yesterday (May 31, 2018).
“She was very defensive and freely utilized the idea that a meeting with their son will not occur unless they and George Lepley are present.”
From the OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART III
IRREGULARITIES
Lori Baer, WASD school board president signed two different Republican petitions for Jennifer Lake on February 19, 2019 the same day as a school board meeting, as follows:
#3 Lori A. Baer, right below WAHS Athletic Director #1 Sean McCann and Stevens Elementary School Principal, #2 Kirk Felix.
This story does not address the former head baseball coach at the time showing up and coaching a game at Bowmn Field intoxicated, he subsequently resigned days later, the dugout incident at Jersey Shore, the half-time brawl in the football locker room or after the same game the brawl that resulted in at least two victims needing medical attention.
At the college level the NCAA may well cite an athletic department with
“lack of institutional control.”
The case is currently under investigation by the office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.
