A Closer Look at the Valley Forge Military Academy Sex Scandal

Symantha Hicks, 30, a former Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) counselor, stands accused of one count of Unlawful Contact with a Minor, eleven counts of Corruption of Minors, and ten counts of Selling or Furnishing Liquor or Malt or Brewed Beverages to Minors—including performing oral sex on a then-16 year old cadet. According to the affidavit filed on Jan. 3 by Radnor police Detective Shawn Dietrich, the following is a timeline of the events related to the budding scandal at the Eagle Road boys' academy:

On Dec. 4 2011 Radnor police were dispatched to VFMA in response to a reported assault. After arriving at the scene, police learned from Academy Commandant of Cadets Rik Thorton that two 17-year-old cadets (Cadet #2 and Cadet #3) were involved in what the document described as an "underage alcohol consumption incident" in the late hours of Dec. 3 and the early morning hours of Dec. 4. It was during this time that the officers learned that a third cadet (Cadet #1), aged 16, had received oral sex from Hicks at the school.

Hicks was a newly hired Guidance Counselor for the fall term at the academy. Her primary responsibilities were for academic advisement, to students, including college-bound seniors, according to the school.

According to a subsequent testimony from Cadet #1—who had both of his parents present at the time of his testimony—on Oct. 31, 2011, Cadet #1, after weeks of daily meetings with Hicks for academic tutoring, was alone in Hicks' office with Hicks for the first time. With the door closed and the shades drawn, Hicks touched Cadet #1's hands, then began kissing him. After a several minutes, she began fondling his genitals then performed oral sex, to completion, on the minor.

Cadet #1 told investigators that Hicks contacted him with an evening text message a few weeks later, inviting him to visit her room on campus (she told him she would be staying on campus that night because she had a "fishing club" trip the next day). Cadet #1 reported that there were approximately ten text messages exchanged between them that evening, but he ultimately declined her invitation.

In a later interview, Cadet #2 told investigators that Hicks provided him alcohol on four different occasions, both on- and off-campus. Cadet #3 also told investigators that Hicks provided him alcohol on four different occasions, both on-and off-campus.

In a later interview with a fourth cadet (Cadet #4), Cadet #4 told investigators that Hicks had given him a 24-pack of beer on Nov. 12, 2011 and two bottles of alcohol two weeks later.

Though, according to the affidavit only Cadet #1 reported sexual contact with Hicks, she appeared, as evidenced by activity on her Facebook wall, to have had a close relationship with several of her former students.

Her Nov. 16, 2011 status reads: "I [heart] BF [student name]." To which someone commented, "that's weird why did you put that on your status."

That evening her status read, "To all my students, Sorry for being a witch today. I will be better tomorrow I promise. [Heart]." To which a student commented, "You were sooo nice to me today :)"

A few facebook exhanges by Hicks had to do with alcohol — one in which she stated she was heading home to make "three types of jello shots" and one in which she laments drinking a lot the night before.

According to the school, VFMA&C has a general computer usage policy, and the Human Resources department conducts a staff seminar on healthy professional boundaries for those working with students, which includes a segment on social
media.

Hicks attended that seminar early in the academic year, a school representative said.