Former Shipley School Squash Coach Accused of Having Sex with Teenage Student

A former squash coach at the private in Bryn Mawr has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student and will have a preliminary court hearing Thursday morning. 

The man, James Civello, 50, of Upper Black Eddy, Pa., is charged with one count of corruption of minors and one count of endangering the welfare of children, both third-degree felonies.

The alleged victim’s family filed a complaint July 7 with Lower Merion Township police. Civello was arraigned before District Justice Kathleen M. Valentine the following day and is currently in Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Civello was employed by Shipley until July 3, according to an email from a school official, who did not wish to comment further.

The alleged victim told police the sexual relationship with Civello, her squash coach, began April 7 at , 31 Morton Road. She said they also had sex once at the Haverford Train Station and five times at the girl’s Lower Merion residence, according to the criminal complaint. The girl also said Civello provided condoms when the two had sexual intercourse, the complaint states.

“The juvenile female victim described Civello as a mentor to her,”  Det. Christine Konieczny wrote in the complaint.

Civello’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 28, at Valentine’s Ardmore courtroom.