Fall Township, PA- A teacher’s aide was arrested on Thursday, July 15,2021 for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 14 year old student.
Jennilynne M. Derolf, 38, was charged with felony counts that involved involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault and institutional sexual assault and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and corruption of minors.
Derolf was then arraigned by District Judge Jan Vislosky and sent to Bucks County Correctional under a 10 percent, $900,000, bail.
The start of the investigation began Tuesday, July 13, 2021, as FTPD Patrol Officer George Thomas responded to 9825 Lawson Drive, Morrisville, Falls Township, PA for a sexual assault claim.
When Officer Thomas entered the residence, Tracy Heib of Falls Township told the office that her 14-year-old grandson known as VC due to him being a minor, was sexually assaulted by his teacher’s aide Jennilynne M. Derolf (Valley Day School in Falls Township).
Heib went on to say, “her grandson was having a romantic relationship with Derolf at school.”
At the time Derolf was 38-years old and the victim VC was 14-years old.
The victim was interviewed by detectives Stephen Reeves and John Vella (both officers of Falls Township).
The victim told detectives that the meeting between himself and Derolf began in June 2021 and turned romantic when they began to exchange message over a cell phone app named Discord.
The messaging resulted into 3 separate sexual encounters between the 14 year old victim and Derolf.
Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said via Action 6 News, “It’s a shame because it sets back that inherit trust that we tell our kids to have in their teachers.”
Police issued a statement saying that “VC and the defendant would meet and spend time at the Falls Township Park. In early June 2021, VC and the defendant became romantic in nature. VC and the defendant would kiss in the front seat of the defendant’s white truck, while at the park. Over the past week, VC and the defendant’s relationship “escalated” to a sexual relationship.”
Derolf has been fired from Valley Day School in Falls Township.
The school’s Executive Director, Robert Phillips, issued a statement saying, “When were notified of the charges, we immediately removed the staff person from the building. Next week clinical staff will be in to speak with students and staff who need to talk through this process via Action 6 News.”
“The defendants conduct is not only reprehensible, but criminal. She not only violated the trust required in any student teacher relationship, but also that trust that children should be able to have in all adults of authority. She will be held accountable for her criminal acts said Weintraub.”
The case has been assigned to prosecution by Deputy District Attorney Matthew Lannetti and Jennilynne M. Derolf faces decades in prison if convicted.
Detective Stephen Reeves has been a police officer for in Falls Township, Bucks County since 2001. Since 2008, Reeves has been an affiliate member of the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
“I have completed numerous Fox Valley Technical College courses, Technology for Sexual Assault Investigations, Child Sex Trafficking, said Detective Reeves.”
Detective John Vella credentials include being promoted to Detective in September 2016, and continuously being employed by Falls Township Police Department since the promotion.