Pocono News Section

Catholic Gym Teacher Faces Trial

Catholic Gym Teacher Faces Trial - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 5:10PM EST

Williamsport, Lycoming County-
A former Catholic school gym teacher is heading to trial on sex abuse charges. He's accused of illegal sexual contact with a young, male student.

34-year-old James Jamison, of Trout Run, was silent in court Wednesday as his 11-year-old alleged victim recalled several disturbing occasions of indecent behavior.

A district judge determined there was sufficient evidence to send Jamison to trial on more than two dozen counts of sexual abuse and related charges.

Investigators say the abuse happened while the boy was in the first, second, and fifth grades at Saint Boniface Elementary School in Williamsport.

The boy testified that Jamison also threatened him with a pocketknife.

But while Jamison's lawyer believes the child was abused, he says his client is innocent.

Defense Attorney Matthew Zeigler explained, "He (the alleged victim) indicated during the preliminary that there is somebody else who he accused of these types of acts at another point. So it could very well be that somebody else did this, and this is the best way that he has of telling somebody."

Jamison took a job with a school district in York, Pennsylvania, prior to the beginning of this school year.

Prosecutors say they are still checking for any other possible victims.

James Jamison will be in court again on May 18th. He is locked up at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $350,000 bail.