Former IT employee sentenced to 23 months for sexually assaulting Bedford student

Bedford County, PA (WJAC) — Authorities with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General say a former Bedford County school IT employee has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a student.

Officials say Jarrod Clapper was sentenced to serve 7 to 23 months in prison for sexually assaulting a student at the Bedford Area High School.

Clapper was convicted in April on charges of institutional sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor.

Authorities say Clapper's sentence also includes three years of probation and he must register as a sex offender for a minimum of 25 years.

Police charged Clapper last April following a months-long investigation into accusations that he had engaged in sexual activity with a teenage female student.

Troopers say Clapper had previously served in the school's IT department and investigators say police discovered numerous sexually explicit messages between them.

“The defendant used his position with the school to gain access to and take advantage of a teenage student,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “Today’s sentence ensures that he is held accountable for his crimes and that he will no longer be a risk to students. Our office is committed to keeping our schools places of learning and student development, not spaces for offenders to perpetrate crimes.”

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