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	Probe Clears Devon Prep Priest By Michael P. Rellahan Daily Local News December 7, 2011 http://dailylocal.com/articles/2011/12/06/news/doc4edea45c9b769258278558.txt WEST CHESTER – No criminal charges will be brought against a suspended teacher at the Devon Preparatory School in relation to an unexplained incident that allegedly occurred in a classroom at the private Catholic school on the Main Line, according to a Chester County prosecutor. Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth B. Pitts, supervisor for the district attorney's child abuse unit, said Tuesday that an investigation by the Tredyffrin Police Department into a complaint about the Rev. Richard Wyzykiewicz had concluded recently, and that her office had decided to close its file after she reviewed the department's reports. "It has been determined that no criminal charges will be filed in this matter," Pitts said. "I don't believe there were any appropriate charges to bring in the case." Pitts declined to discuss the nature of the complaint against Wyzykiewicz or what the police investigation uncovered. A spokeswoman for Devon Prep, Rose Lombardo, said the school would not comment further on the matter until after parents were notified of the situation. In November, Wyzykiewicz was relieved of teaching and public-ministry duties by the school after it learned of the police investigation, according to school officials. According to Devon Prep officials at the time, the alleged misconduct took place in a classroom while Wyzykiewicz was sitting at his desk and a group of students was present. The incident reportedly occurred during the 2010-11 school year. In an e-mail to a newspaper Lombardo said the alleged misconduct did not "involve physical, verbal or electronic contact between Rev. Wyzykiewicz and any student." Lombardo wrote that "no prior report of this incident had been made by a parent or student to our school or any public authority. Law enforcement is aware of the allegation and Devon Prep will be cooperating fully with the investigation. As of last week, Wyzykiewicz was relieved of his teaching duties, will not be involved in public ministry, and has been assigned to a Piarist community where he will have no contact with children or adolescents," she said. The Piarists are the Catholic order that oversees the Devon school. Speaking of the investigation at the time, Lombardo said the school was focused on its community. "Of immediate and paramount concern is the impact that this sad news may have on our students," Lombardo wrote. "Counseling personnel are available on campus for our students." Wyzykiewicz's attorney, John J. Duffy of West Chester, on Tuesday confirmed that his client had been informed that he would not face any criminal charges for his behavior However, Duffy expressed concern that Wyzykiewicz would still face suspicion from the public because of the actions against him and an indirect association with the myriad sexual abuse cases in the Catholic church. "Here is a dedicated teacher with an unblemished record on faculty at Devon Prep for more than 24 years who's now living a nightmare," Duffy said. "That's sad." Duffy declined to comment on whether Wyzykiewicz would seek to regain his former position at Devon Prep. Contact: mrellahan@dailylocal.com
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