A veteran Wilmington Area School District teacher and choir director is free on $30,000 bail awaiting a court hearing next month on 26 charges, nearly half of them sex-related.

Jonathan Priano, 35, of New Wilmington was fingerprinted and booked into the Lawrence County Jail last week on two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, ten counts of institutional sexual assault, twelve counts of corruption of minors, two counts of endangering the welfare of children.

According to NBC Pittsburgh affiliate WPXI, Priano is accused of using his position as a district choir teacher to build relationships with two students.

Investigators say Priano stayed in contact with students after they graduated and had contact with one student more than 10 times.

Court records show that the alleged incidents occurred as far back as 2010.

According to the school district website, where Priano is still listed as a faculty member, under Priano’s direction Wilmington’s Chorus, Chamber Singers, and Women Choir received superior ratings from judges of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in 2018.

Pennsylvania Department of Education records show that Priano was credentialed in Instructional Music in 2007.

Department records show no history of discipline for Priano.