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Ex-Conestoga High School Teacher Admits To Sexually Assaulting Student

She admitted to sexual activity with a 16-year-old student and marijuana use, and must register as a Tier II sex offender for 25 years.

  • On Friday, Michelle Mercogliano, 35, of Phoenixville, pleaded guilty to two counts of institutional sexual assault and one count of corruption of minors, receiving a sentence of at least 15 months in Chester County Prison.
  • Mercogliano, who began teaching special education at Conestoga High School in fall 2024, engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student beginning in February 2025, prompting authorities to launch an investigation on April 28, 2025.
  • The student reported approximately 12 sexual encounters with Mercogliano starting in February, during which she provided medical marijuana; the boy's father discovered packaging with her name in his son's closet, with most incidents occurring at her parents' home in Malvern.
  • Mercogliano surrendered her teaching license before her guilty plea and was designated a Tier II sex offender under Megan's Law, requiring 25 years of registration and barring her from working with children during probation.
  • She has remained incarcerated at Chester County Prison since May 2025 when unable to post bail, while District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe stated she "broke the law and destroyed that trust" between educators and students; victims can contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
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36-year-old Michelle Mercoliano was sentenced to just 15 months in prison

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NBC Philadelphia broke the news in Philadelphia, United States on Monday, May 4, 2026.
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