54-year-old ex-teacher faces 2026 arraignment after waiving preliminary hearing

Jason Michael Theodore, a 54-year-old former educator from Upper Gwynedd Township, waived his preliminary hearing on Thursday. He stood before District Court Judge Suzan Leonard on charges related to the sexual assault of three underage boys he met through online platforms.

The man, who resides in the 100 block of Royal Avenue, faces formal accusations of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, and unlawful contact with a minor. Prosecutors allege these incidents occurred between 2018 and 2023.

Theodore will return to court for a formal arraignment in the coming month. A county judge will determine his trial date after that proceeding concludes. He remains in the county jail without bail while he waits for his next hearing.

A county judge previously denied Theodore a bid for release. The judge agreed with prosecutors that Theodore poses a danger to the community. The court determined that no specific conditions of bail could guarantee public safety if he were released.

County prosecutors Lauren Elizabeth Marvel and Bradley Walter Deckel handle the case. Theodore is represented by defense attorney Christine Carey Cregar. The legal team is preparing for the upcoming arraignment and subsequent trial scheduling.

The investigation launched on Sept. 9, 2026, when Upper Gwynedd Township Police received a report from a young adult. The victim disclosed years of abuse that started when he was approximately 13 years old. He identified his abuser as Theodore, who served as a physical education teacher at Montgomery Elementary School and a wrestling coach at Pennbrook Middle School.

Police later identified two additional victims during their inquiry. One of these victims had previously been a student of Theodore’s. Detectives alleged that Theodore initiated online contact with this child only after the boy had finished his class.

Two of the victims stated that Theodore used the pseudonym “John” during their interactions. The abuse reportedly began when the victims were between the ages of 13 and 16. Court documents show the first victim, now an adult, said Theodore identified himself as “John Coxstan.” The pair exchanged nude photographs and videos via Snapchat before meeting in person.

The first victim told police that Theodore drove to his home after about two weeks. The victim realized at that meeting that Theodore was much older than he had indicated. Theodore engaged in deviant sexual intercourse with the victim on a weekly or biweekly basis. This pattern continued from the victim’s middle school years through his sophomore year of high school.

Victims reported that Theodore provided them with alcohol and marijuana. They consumed these substances together and exchanged sexually explicit media via a cellphone Theodore provided. The first victim also stated that Theodore arranged a sexual encounter involving a second juvenile. All three victims reported that Theodore initiated contact with them in an online chatroom.

The school district placed Theodore on administrative leave immediately after the investigation began. Authorities confirmed he also coached local hockey teams. The case centers on allegations that Theodore used his position and online presence to build relationships with minors before the alleged assaults took place.