Lehigh Substitute Teacher Sentenced Jail Sexually Assaulting Teen

Jared Matthew Gerhard, a former substitute teacher in Lehigh County, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of indecent assault without consent and corruption of minors after sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl with autism at a Marshalls store in Lower Macungie Township in May 2024. The victim reported that Gerhard touched her inappropriately from behind, causing her to scream and flee, while Gerhard attempted to escape the store but was stopped by Pennsylvania State Police after speeding through the parking lot. Gerhard was sentenced to serve nine to 23 months in Lehigh County Jail, followed by five years of probation, and was designated a sexually violent predator required to register for life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Police also recovered clothing and a toy from the store in Gerhard’s car, which he had taken when fleeing. Multiple witnesses inside the store tried to intervene but were unable to stop him. Gerhard had worked as a substitute teacher at various schools in Lehigh County prior to his arrest.