Michael Zhou ‘21 | Molly Limaye ‘21
The Montgomery District Attorney’s Office has brought the following charges against a Germantown Academy Latin teacher: sexual assault, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors for a sexual relationship.
The sexual relationship between teacher Michael Cheatle and the female student took place from 2014 to 2015. According to an article published two weeks ago in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the woman, now 23 years old, contacted police in July and explained that the relationship lasted 18 months, starting in her junior year at GA. According to the arrest affidavit, when officials made contact with Cheatle in September, he admitted to the claims and willingly showed them the chest tattoos that were described by the victim.
The relationship began during Cheatle’s first year at GA when the student was 17. They met several times, both on and off campus. Cheatle was 37 years old at the time and his wife was pregnant. Investigation revealed that Cheatle sent several apologetic emails and text messages to the former student in 2018 and 2019.
Cheatle called GA administrators to announce his resignation on September 1st. Since then, Attorney David Caputo, representing the prosecution, announced in a statement that a second victim has come forward.
According to a GA statement, Cheatle has been barred from school campus and from contacting former and current students. School administrators will continue to assist detectives in the investigation.
Cheatle was released on $100,000 unsecured bail, according to court records, under the condition that he has no contact with children besides his own. The preliminary hearing is set for October 14th.
GA faculty members declined to comment due to the matter being an open investigation. Jill McEntee ‘21 states, “If I were a GA student, I would be devastated and disturbed to hear that this event happened in my school community. I would be completely shocked and disappointed that a trusted teacher in the community would act in such a horrific and disturbing fashion. I can’t even fathom being faced with such a situation.”