HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, alongside the Pennsylvania State Police, has announced charges against Stephen J. Carroll, a former Lackawanna County police officer and school resource officer at West Scranton High School, for the sexual abuse of five students spanning several years.
Carroll, aged 49, was employed by the Scranton Police Department during the time of the alleged crimes but is no longer with the force. On Friday, he was charged with multiple offenses including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, official oppression, and institutional sexual assault. These charges stem from an extensive investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police’s Organized Crime Unit and evidence gathered through the 52nd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury.
Following his arrest on Friday morning, Carroll was arraigned with bail set at $500,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 3, 2025.
Attorney General Henry condemned the alleged actions, stating, “This public servant took an oath to protect his community and was specifically assigned to look out for the well-being of students — instead he used his position of authority to groom and sexually assault multiple teenagers. This collaborative investigation uncovered a pattern of abuse that spanned years. We will continue to prosecute this case and our efforts to hold this accused predator accountable.”
Echoing the sentiment, Captain James Cuttitta of the Pennsylvania State Police emphasized the priority of student safety, saying, “The safety and well-being of our children and students are our highest priority, and any violation of that trust is both deeply disturbing and unacceptable. We are committed to ensuring that justice is served, and that those in positions of authority are held to the highest standards of conduct.”
The investigation revealed that the criminal conduct began in 2009, with recent interviews and collected evidence leading to the current charges.