Suspended Easton Teacher Headed to Court in Child Sex Case

NAZARETH -- In a low voice, the little girl told the courtroom about her visit to Stephen Sullivan's apartment in 2009, and the warning he gave her if she ever talked about what happened there.

"He said 'If you tell anyone, I'll get arrested,'" the girl, now 7, testified Monday before District Judge John Capobianco in Nazareth.

What happened, prosecutors say, is that Sullivan -- an Easton Area Middle School teacher -- fondled the girl, exposed himself to her and showed her a pornographic movie. 

The girl's testimony, as well as testimony from a Colonial Regional Police detective who found child pornography in Sullivan's Bath apartment, were enough for Capobianco to move the charges against Sullivan to Northampton County Court.

Sullivan, 51, a sixth grade social studies teacher at the middle school, was charged in March with sexual abuse of children, possession of child pornography, indecent assault, criminal solicitation to commit indecent assault, unlawful conduct with a minor, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors.

The girl is not an Easton area student, and there's no evidence to indicate anything happened on school property. Sullivan has been suspended without pay since soon after his arrest.

Sullivan, dressed as he might for the classroom, was joined in court by members of his family. The girl sat in the witness stand with her mother in a chair nearby.

It was matter-of-fact testimony with one emotional moment.

Defense attorney Dennis Charles was questioning the girl, asking again and again about whom she might have told about what allegedly happened between her and Sullivan. 

As the questioning went on, the girl's mother raised an angry middle finger toward the defense table, and broke down into tears. She was gently escorted from the courtroom.

"Did she just do what I think she did?" Charles asked the judge.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia Broscius accused Charles of going on a "fishing expedition" with these questions.

"I don't have to accept what she's saying as truth," Charles responded.

Also Monday, Sullivan was arraigned on resulting from the search of his computer, which police say turned up several hundred images of child pornography. 

He is charged with 100 counts of possession of child pornography, and faces up to 20 years in prison on those charges alone. Broscius asked that bail be set at $500,000, or $5,000 for each new charge. She said the search of Sullivan's computer turned up "substantial amounts that aren't even reflected in the charges."

Charles asked the judge to continue Sullivan's original $75,000 bail.

"He has connections and contacts with the community," the attorney said. "He's not going anywhere."

Capobianco set bail at $25,000, which Sullivan posted. A preliminary hearing on the new charges has been set for April 29, but it will almost certainly be rescheduled.