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Counselor Allegedly Pressured Student Into Relationship By Promising Admission To Harvard

By Jim Melwert

MALVERN, Pa. (CBS) – A college counselor and swim-coach at Malvern Prep is facing charges she tried to use her position at the private, all-boys school in Chester County, to start a sexual relation with a student.

Authorities say the victim told investigators he received inappropriate emails and texts from 40-year-old Emily Feeney, his swim coach and guidance counselor, beginning sometime in 2014.

The victim said the behavior started when he was 16.

Officials say an investigation revealed that Feeney allegedly kissed the victim and sent photos of herself in various stages of undress to the victim, including an alleged topless picture.

Furthermore, authorities say Feeney sent the victim messages such as, "I adore you – always have, always will," and when the victim rebuffed, she allegedly continued to pursue him, stating in an email "You can either start talking to me again and respond to me, or we can discuss in my office Monday. If you ever cared about me, please don't shut me out. It's too painful."

Officials say the victim repeatedly told Feeney to stop. In one message he wrote, "I'm not interested in you end of story l'm 16 I'm not into you."

Authorities say Feeney told the victim she could use her connections to get him admitted to Harvard University. It is alleged she forwarded the victim a message she received from Harvard regarding the victim being a candidate for the swim team, stating: "You owe me big time."

The District Attorney says Feeney was using her position and the promise of admission to an elite college as a means to pressure the victim into a physical relationship.

"The defendant told him, if you go along with this, I'll get you Harvard, and of course the unspoken message there, if you don't go along with this, you're not getting into Harvard."

It is alleged at one point Feeney texted the victim, "If you'd just stop fighting and let it happen, you'd be a lot less uptight and happier."

District Attorney Hogan stated, "As the Director of College Counseling and a coach, the defendant was entrusted with extraordinary access to and control over Malvem Prep students. She betrayed that trust by trying to seduce a student, even when he asked her to stop. The fact that this was a female adult corrupting a male juvenile does not change the criminality of the conduct."

Authorities say Feeney previously worked at Princeton University.

DA Hogan says they were able to intervene before the relationship proceeded past a kiss. He says Malvern Prep has fired Feeney and she is cooperating. He adds communications between students and teachers should be limited to school accounts that can be monitored, not on private emails or text messages.

The District Attorney's Office says Feeney is charged with Institutional Sexual Assault, Unlawful
Contact with a Minor, Corruption of Minors, and Indecent Assault.

 

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