Preliminary Hearing Waived, Bail Reduced for Former Shipley Squash Coach

Wearing a blue prison uniform and sporting a week's growth of facial hair, 50-year-old James Civello, of Upper Black Eddy, waived his preliminary hearing on Thursday morning, setting the stage for a formal arraignment at the Montgomery County Courthouse on Sept. 7.

Civello faces one count of corruption of a minor, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, stemming from an at .  The alleged sexual encounters date back to April 7, 2011, with the victim stating she had sex with the defendant on multiple occasions in various places.

No other charges were presented at the preliminary hearing, and no charges were dropped.

The hearing was delayed for half of an hour, as Civello failed to secure representation in the weeks leading up to his appearance in court.  A public defender, who was already present at the courthouse, stood in as council for the hearing, but Judge Kathleen Valentine instructed Civello to retain counsel prior to his formal arraignment.

Though initially being remanded in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, Civello had his bail reduced to a 10 percent bond of $100,000. He informed the judge that he already had worked with his wife on a tentative agreement for bond.

Judge Valentine allowed the reduction, but placed a slew of conditions pending his release. The defendant is not allowed to have any direct or indirect contact with the victim, or any contact with any current students at Shipley and anyone younger than 18. Judge Valentine warned that it's Civello's job to stay away, not the other way around, and that if the conditions are compromised a single time, bail will be revoked and Civello will be remanded for the duration of the court proceedings.

Until bail is posted, Civello will be placed into the general population of the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Civello pleaded with the prosecutor to place him in protective custody, but she replied with a firm "no."

Several media outlets attended the hearing, and were explicitly told that Civello would be exiting through the rear door of the courthouse.  Immediately following the hearing, reporters and journalists positioned themselves next to the Lower Merion patrol car that was used to transport the defendant. An unidentified Lower Merion officer came through the door, and laughed when the cameras all pointed toward him.

"You'll get your chance," said the officer.

At that point, he drove the patrol car around the block, pulling over directly in front of the main entrance to the courthouse. Media rushed over, but the officer quickly placed Civello into the car and drove off.  When a staff member was asked why he was allowed to leave through the front door, she said she didn't know why it happened, and she was surprised.

The Assistant District Attorney also quickly left without answering questions or commenting on the case.

Stay tuned to Bryn Mawr-Gladwyne Patch for more information as it becomes available.