Haverford Teacher Masturbated In Local Park, Cemetery: Reports

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — A School District of Haverford Township teacher has been charged in Montgomery and Bucks counties after authorities said he was caught masturbating in two public locations.

Matthew Gagat, 47, of Horsham, is charged with open lewdness, indecent exposure, and disorderly conduct crimes in both counties. Gagat is listed as a fifth grade teacher at Lynnewood Elementary School in the School District of Haverford Township.

Gagat is still listed on the district's website as a teacher as of Tuesday afternoon.

According to court records, the incidents occurred on March 3 in Horsham Township and June 27 in Sellersville Borough.

The March incident occurred in Whitemarsh Memorial Park in Ambler, North Penn Now reports.

The Sellersville incident occurred June 27 in Lenape Park, Perkasie Police told Patch.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports in the Ambler incident, someone reported seeing a man masturbating to Horsham Police. Gagat denied masturbating when confronted by police, the outlet reports.

Then on June 27, Perkasie Police were contacted by a woman who said she saw a man touching himself sexually near a Boy Scout Cabin behind the Sellersville armory.

Responding officers spoke with the man, later identified as Gagat, who denied doing anything, police said.

Police followed up with other police departments, then spoke with the woman who reported the incident again, gleaning more details.

Perkasie Police said they learned of the Montgomery County charges on June 28.

She told investigators that it looked like the man was making motions consistent with masturbating and that either his pants were down enough to expose his genitals or that his zipper was down, exposing his genitals.

Police reported their findings to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, which later approved charges against Gagat.

Court documents show he is scheduled for an Aug. 6 preliminary hearing in Bucks County, and that he was formally arraigned in Montgomery County on July 17.

In the Montgomery County case, he is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.

The district said it only learned of the incidents Monday night.

"First and foremost, we understand and share in the concern this news causes, and the desire for more information and for a meaningful response from the school district," Superintendent of Schools Maureen Reusche, Ed.D., said in a letter to the community. "We will do our very best to provide as much accurate information, context, and support as soon as possible."

Reusche said the district work to share as much information as possible with sensitivity and transparency.

"We are very much aware that there are many important questions to be answered and information to be addressed," she said. "We expect to be able to share additional information in the next few days and to provide opportunities for additional support to our families, as well. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work as quickly as possible."

Patch has reached out to Horsham Police for more information and will update the story when additional details are made available.