Assistant principal accused of not reporting sexual assault has bail reduced

BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — An assistant principal accused of not reporting sexual assaults on a school bus had his million-dollar bail reduced.

Patrick Isgan, 37, an assistant principal at Chestnut Ridge Middle School, was charged with failing to report the accusations of an 8-year-old girl who said a 12-year-old boy sexually assaulted her on the school bus in November 2023.

Isgan was given a million-dollar bail, something his attorney, Thomas Dickey, said was excessive and painted his client as guilty until proven innocent. On Wednesday, March 27, Magisterial District Judge Brian K. Baker lowered his bail to 10% of $100,000. Since Isgan already paid the million-dollar bail, $990,000 will be returned to the family.

Isgan also has bail conditions that prohibit him from having contact with the victim and he cannot act in a supervisory position involving children who are not family or friends.

Dickey questioned the court as to why only Isgan was charged when three or four other mandated reporters also failed to make a report to ChildLine.

“The Commonwealth believes that bail was set appropriately and that the facts of what happened never changed. We are prepared to present the case as is,” Bedford County District Attorney Ashlan Clark said.

The courtroom was full of supporters for Isgan who wore light-green ribbons to the preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon.

“We are overwhelmed with joy. This restores our faith in the criminal justice system. The constitution matters and affects everyone,” Dickey said.

Isgan’s preliminary hearing was continued to April 17.

Investigators said that in November, Isgan failed to report the child’s accusations to ChildLine.

Through the investigation by Pennsylvania State Police, it was discovered that multiple children ages five to 12, boys and girls, also accused the 12-year-old of touching them on the bus while using a coat or backpack to conceal it.

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Clark previously said that the accused 12-year-old has been charged with sexual offenses as a juvenile.

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