Pocono News Section

Former Teacher Admits Fondling Boy

Former Teacher Admits Fondling Boy - Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 12:17PM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Thursday, Mar 11, 2010 @ 01:17pm EST
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY - A man who taught music at Berwick Area Middle School admits he fondled a teenage boy.

46-year-old Brian Fish appeared in court, Thursday morning, and pleaded guilty to indecent assault.
"It's an unfortunate incident. A despicable incident," said Columbia County District Attorney Gary Norton.
An incident prosecutors say happened 6-months ago when Fish fondled a 14-year-old boy on the Berwick man's front porch.
Fish told the judge he didn't know the boy he invited onto his porch that night in September.
When the judge asked him why he did invite him, Fish replied that 'he looked like a boy in trouble or was up to trouble'.

Fish's guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge could carry up to 2-years in prison.
While there's no guarantee he'll serve any jail time, the D. A. is hopeful.
"It was an open plea which means we didn't compromise our ability to ask for jail or ask for any other particular sanction," said Norton.

Fish's lawyer, Attorney Frank Kepner, hopes the judge shows leniency to a man he says has been beloved by many for years.
"All of his students did indeed love him. He was very active in the community. He did a lot of things for the youth in Berwick... many of which he paid for out of his own pocket," said Kepner.
Neither Fish nor his attorney would comment about the plea.
The disgraced former music teacher will face sentencing at Columbia County Court within 3-months.
Fish was suspended from his teaching job last September.
He also gave up his teaching license.