Crime & Safety
Mercer School Athletic Director Charged After Peeping Into Neighbor's Bedroom Window
Winfield Becker faces PA charges after an Aug. 6 incident in Plumstead Township; he remains on leave from the district.
MERCER COUNTY, NJ - The athletic director for Hopewell Valley Regional School District has been charged in Pennsylvania after police say he was caught on home surveillance video peering into a young woman's bedroom window.
Officers from the Plumstead Township Police Department were dispatched to an address on Split Log Drive in the Cabin Run Development at approximately 10:41 p.m. on Aug. 6, for a report of an adult male peering into a young female's bedroom window, according to the department.
The homeowner's video surveillance captured the incident, which led police to identify the man as a Cabin Run resident and neighbor of the complainant, police said. He was charged with loitering and prowling, a third-degree misdemeanor, and summary harassment.
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8, before Judge Gambardella at 276 Tabor Rd. in Ottsville, Pennsylvania.
According to NJ.com, the man charged is Winfield A. "Tripp" Becker, 48, who serves as athletic director for Hopewell Valley Regional School District. District records show Becker has served as athletic director for grades 6 through 12 and as supervisor of wellness since at least 2015.
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Hopewell Valley Regional Superintendent Rosetta Treece notified district families of the charges in a letter, without naming Becker directly, according to a letter obtained by The Trentonian. "The allegations against this individual do not involve conduct within the district and are not related to any district students," Treece wrote.
In an interview with MercerMe, Treece said the district learned of the matter when Becker self-reported, as required under board policy. "He let us know right away because that's our board policy," Treece said, adding that Becker "followed all the proper protocol" in notifying officials.
Treece said the employee has been placed on administrative leave in line with district policy. She also noted that the matter is unrelated to his work in the district and is being handled solely by Pennsylvania law enforcement.
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