Former teacher pleads guilty to molestation
Friday, January 09, 2009
BY MATT MILLER
Of Our Cumberland County Bureau
A former Cedar Cliff High School math teacher and a private karate instructor is bound for state prison after pleading guilty to repeatedly molesting one of his teenage martial arts students.
Michael D. Zrncic, 32, of Upper Allen Twp., entered his plea Thursday before Cumberland County President Judge Edgar B. Bayley to a charge of aggravated indecent assault for having sex with the 15-year-old girl.
The crime carries a mandatory penalty of at least 5 years in prison, Senior Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey McInroy said.
Bayley will sentence Zrncic after the former educator is evaluated to determine whether he should be deemed a sexually violent predator under Megan's Law, McInroy said.
He said Zrncic's plea will spare the girl the "pain" of testifying at a trial.
It also will bar Zrncic from teaching.
Zrncic, who is free pending sentencing, had been slated for trial this month on the aggravated indecent assault charge and counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and indecent assault.
Zrncic and the teen had sex at Zrncic's private martial arts school, Z's Karate Studio, in the Eastgate Plaza in Hampden Twp., authorities said.
The girl wasn't one of Zrncic's students at Cedar Cliff, authorities said. Zrncic was on leave from his West Shore School District job when he was arrested by township police in September.
Investigators said Zrncic had sex with the girl repeatedly. They said the girl told them he ended the relationship by telling her his wife was pregnant.
Police said they were contacted in April after the girl's parents learned of inappropriate e-mails and instant messages of a sexual nature between Zrncic and their daughter.