Former Bucks Teacher Accused Of Multiple Felonies Draws Pension: Report

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. —A former Central Bucks School District choir director accused of inappropriate behavior with former students has been drawing more than $7,000 a month in pension benefits since his resignation in March, according to information published by the Bucks County Courier Times.

Through a Right to Know request, the newspaper also learned that Joseph Ohrt withdrew a one lump sum of $369,264.85 that he had contributed during his years in the school system, in addition to interest earnings.

It’s unclear, the paper reports, on whether Ohrt’s pension will be impacted by the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act (Act 140) since his offenses pre-date the addition of sexually-related crimes to the law in 2004.

Act 140 requires forfeiture of all pension and retirement benefits by any pension fund member who commits certain crimes. Also forfeited are any benefits for the member's beneficiaries and survivor annuitants.

The only benefits Act 140 allows a member to receive are his or her contributions paid into the pension fund, without interest. Even these may be lost, however, because they can be used to pay fines and restitution associated with the criminal conviction.

Act 140 is triggered if a pension fund member is convicted of, pleads guilty, or has no defense to any listed crime committed through the member's public office or position or when public employment puts the member in a position to commit the crime.

Ohrt, previously the choir director at Central Bucks High School West, was charged earlier this year by the Bucks County District Attorney's Office with multiple felonies, after investigators heard stories of misconduct from several former students.

In April, the Central Bucks Board of School Directors voted unanimously to revoke Ohrt's previously-approved retirement and to approve his resignation, effective March 17.

The former teacher had been on administrative leave since December, and the board had approved his planned retirement at the end of the year.

Then, Ohrt was arrested on wiretapping charges when a young man who'd been living with him turned his laptop in to investigators from the Central Bucks Regional Police Department. That laptop, the DA's office said, contained non-consensual footage of one of Ohrt's former students undressing.

The Central Bucks alum in question described his relationship with Ohrt as "complicated."

Two more former students came forward after Ohrt's arrest.

John, age 11 at the time, said he and his mother told a Linden Elementary School principal and guidance counselor that the choir teacher had touched him inappropriately in 1991. Then, after Ohrt was relocated to the high school, the teacher touched 13-year-old "Jack" inappropriately while the teenager was babysitting, according to the DA's office.

Their stories brought new charges: two counts each of indecent assault and corruption of minors.