Jason Loboi, 35, of Johnstown, is a sixth-grade teacher at Greater Johnstown Middle School. Officials said he also coaches youth football and is heavily involved in a church.

Officials in Cambria County said the victim was younger than 12 years old. Police started an investigation after the child told someone about assaults that had been ongoing for three years. Police said Loboi touched and forced himself on the child.

Police said the assaults didn't happen at church or school, but at a home in Geistown in Cambria County.

Loboi is charged with numerous counts including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault on a child and corruption of minors.

Loboi was arraigned Thursday, with bail set at $200,000.

Johnstown Area School District Superintendent Barbara Parkins said Loboi has been teaching in the district for at least 10 years, and police said Loboi has never been in trouble before.

"What we do here is try to employ the best employees and those without records. We go through that whole clearance phase that we make sure everyone's clean," Parkins said.

Parkins said the district is offering counseling for students and asking parents to call the district's administrative office with questions. She said officials will have to review the case to permanently suspend Loboi, but she said, for now, he will not be allowed back in school.

"It's absolutely a terrible situation. We have counselors on hand in all the buildings. If anyone needs their child to be seen by a counselor, we'll absolutely make that available," Parkins said.

Geistown Police Chief Nick Zakucia Jr. said if there are children or parents who know of sex assault incidents, they should call police at 800-281-1680.

"It's important that they tell someone -- they tell their guidance counselors, they talk to the police. You know, there's people out there that can help them, and … they might be able to help someone else from going through something like this," Zakucia said.

The chief said if Loboi is convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.

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