Police charge former Hazleton area school administrator for allegedly kissing student
SUGAR BREAD TWP. – A high school girl told police she kissed her teacher more than 10 times in the summer of 2021 and that thousands of instant messages between them went from “flirtatious” to “sexual in nature”, a report police said Tuesday in arrest papers filed against 60-year-old James Hudock.
Even though they met at Larock Park, Hudock tried to hide their “consensual” romantic relationship, but resigned and retired from his position as assistant manager on September 14, 2021, the same day as district officials Hazleton area school confronted him about it last year. , police said.
Hudock was arraigned by District Judge Daniel O’Donnell for felony felony institutional sexual assault and bribery of minors, and misdemeanor bribery of minors. He was released on an unsecured bond of $50,000.
Police say the investigation began after receiving a Childline report from the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office alleging the student had a relationship with Hudock, who spent time alone with the minor and kissed her at the least twice.
The criminal complaint filed by the Sugarloaf Township police read:
The relationship lasted from the end of school in June 2021 to the beginning of September of that year. The girl and Hudock instantly messaged each other over the phone through the Snapchat app so he could keep in touch with her over the summer. They also played tennis at the park and took walks.
Hudock gave her gift cards for Starbucks and Rita’s Italian Ice as well as candy and a keychain. They kissed at least 10 times, including two in the backseat of his vehicle.
The girl deleted messages, photos and videos from her phone. But with the help of the Pennsylvania State Police’s Computer Crimes Unit, township police were able to examine the contents of 7,211 pages of messages between the girl and Hudock.
“The communication between the accused and (the daughter) became flirtatious in June 2021 and sexual in July 2021,” the complaint states.
The complaint says that Hudock messaged, “and going back to yesterday, if I’m not being too direct, I think it would be very comfortable to share a bed with you. If it’s anything like cuddling that you gave me earlier.
In November 2011, police obtained a search warrant and served it on Hudock’s residence in Drums, recovering his Apple iPhone 12. It was sent to the State Police’s Computer Crimes Unit and the same 7,211 pages of Snapchat messages were recovered.
Hudock’s comments ranged from compliments on her hair and “glowing skin” to more daring conversations about what the girl wore to bed.
In one instance, Hudock looked sad that the girl went to a birthday party without him at a friend’s house. After giving her the address, he visited her at a residence and later said, “I love you in a bikini today,” “super hot in print,” and “I tried to don’t watch with your friends there.
In another conversation, they discussed shopping and choosing underwear, saying, “Oh sure, now you tell me. I would have been there before you and I would have exposed them all, then I would have been there to help you. Like we did for a show.
Hudock also told the girl that nothing she did caused him to make a sound when he kissed her. He said “Damn no! I want more, more, more!
Contact Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.
