Allegheny County Police said there might be more victims of sexual assault by a former Highlands School District teacher arrested Thursday.
Sean Dicer, 53, was arrested at his Pacific Avenue home in Brackenridge. He was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, unlawful contact with a minor and sexual extortion.
During the ongoing investigation, police said they’ve received information that there might be more victims related to the case.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the county tip line at 833-ALL-TIPS (833-255-8477).
An investigation into Dicer, a longtime elementary teacher and regular fixture at school events, began Nov. 7 after Tarentum police forwarded to county police a report made to ChildLine, the state’s child abuse hotline. A tip was made by a 16-year-old boy claiming he had been abused several years earlier by Dicer.
A second boy’s claim also was investigated. The boys, now 16, were 11 and 12 when the alleged assaults occurred, according to a criminal complaint.
Police said the incidents happened in summer 2021 at Dicer’s home.
Dicer is accused of paying $6,000 via Cash App to silence one of the victims.
Dicer’s attorney, Duke George, said it was too early to comment on the particulars of the case.
“My client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We haven’t even gotten to step one yet, which is the preliminary hearing. We will address every issue by the commonwealth that has been brought up.”
According to his Facebook page, Dicer worked as a teacher at Highlands for more than 19 years, from August 2002 to January 2022. Before leaving the district, Dicer was a familiar face at youth sports and activities because he operated a private photography business. He was often on the sidelines at football, basketball and other youth sports games where he would sell photos to parents.
He is being held in the county jail after being denied bail, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17 at District Judge Carolyn Bengel’s courtroom in Brackenridge.
