Pocono News Section

Hazleton Area Teacher Charged for Threatening Principal

Hazleton Area Teacher Charged for Threatening Principal - Monday, March 15, 2010 at 04:08AM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday March 15 2010
0/ 5 rating var vt = new ElementRating('element-rating-1', '/component/zoo/?view=element&task=callelement&format=raw&item_id=128924&element=rating');

HAZLE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY - In an update to a story the I-Team first broke earlier this month, a Luzerne County teacher has now been charged by police with threatening a school principal.

State police confirm they have filed charges against a Hazleton teacher for allegedly threatening the principal of the career center.

The I-Team was first to tell you about the investigation back on March 4th. State troopers have now filed charges against 50-year-old Cynthia Lou DeLuzio of Hazleton.

According to investigators, DeLuzio told another teacher at the career center that she would commit an act of violence against the principal, 39-year-old Lori Ann Herman. The alleged threat was made on Thursday, March 4th.

School district officials placed DeLuzio on a leave of absence. Superintendent Sam Marolo told the I-Team this morning that they have now suspended DeLuzio without pay, as they conduct their own internal investigation.

State police filed three charges, including making terroristic threats and two counts of harassment.

Those charges were filed in the office of District Justice Thomas Sharkey's office. They will be sent to DeLuzio by mail. A hearing date has not been set.