KELLY ANN SCHUTTE FROM PERKASIE EXPOSED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WITH TEEN AT PENNRIDGE SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, Kelly Ann Schutte, a 36-year-old guidance counselor, has been implicated in a serious misconduct involving a 14-year-old boy. The allegations reveal that Schutte engaged in multiple instances of sexual activity with the minor during the summer of 2023, breaching the professional boundaries of her role and betraying the trust placed in her by the school and the community.

According to court records and statements made during her court appearance, Schutte first established contact with the boy while working as a guidance counselor at Pennridge South Middle School. The relationship reportedly began after a school trip in 2022, during which she initiated communication with the student. This initial contact was followed by continued communication through various school messaging platforms, including Canvas and Snapchat, even during holiday periods, indicating a pattern of grooming and ongoing inappropriate contact.

The court heard that Schutte's misconduct involved physical acts of a sexual nature, which took place in her vehicle parked outside a local supermarket and at the boy’s residence while his family was away. These acts represented a gross violation of her professional responsibilities, which were solely to provide guidance and support to students, not to engage in any form of sexual misconduct.

During her court appearance, Judge Wendy Rothstein did not mince words, describing her actions as “sexually molested a student” and emphasizing that she had breached her trust “on multiple occasions.” The judge also noted that her misconduct was not an isolated incident but a pattern of behavior that severely compromised her role as an educator and mentor.

In February, Schutte pleaded guilty to charges of corruption of minors, a plea that was part of a broader plea deal. As part of her sentencing, she was ordered to serve seven years of probation, register as a sex offender for 15 years, and was explicitly barred from any future employment as a school counselor. Additionally, she is required to undergo psychosexual evaluation and follow prescribed treatment plans. The plea deal also resulted in the dismissal of additional charges, including institutional sexual assault and indecent assault.

The impact of Schutte’s actions has been deeply felt by the victim’s family. The mother of the 14-year-old expressed her anguish, describing how the grooming process and abuse “jolted” her family and noting that the damage inflicted on her son was “substantial” and irreversible. She emphasized that “no sentence can right this wrong or undo the damage that has resulted,” but she called for justice to be served to prevent further harm and to hold Schutte accountable for her actions.

This case has raised serious concerns about safeguarding and the importance of vigilance within educational institutions. The community of Perkasie and the broader Pennridge area are now grappling with the aftermath of this betrayal, seeking reassurance that such breaches of trust will be met with appropriate consequences and that measures will be reinforced to protect students from similar misconduct in the future.