Bellefonte board accepts resignation of member charged with assault. What’s next?
The Bellefonte Area School District’s board has officially accepted the resignation of a board member who was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman in College Township last week.
All five board members present at Wednesday’s meeting accepted the resignation of Jack Bechdel, who was charged with one misdemeanor count of simple assault and one summary count of physical harassment April 3.
No present school board members or community members during public comment spoke at the meeting regarding Bechdel’s case or resignation. Members Jennifer Barnhart, Patrick Buck and Donna Smith were not present at Wednesday’s meeting at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap.
Bechdel announced his resignation from the board April 5.
“My actions has [sic] drawn a spotlight on the board that is not warranted,” Bechdel wrote last week in an emailed statement. “As long as I am on the board during this period, the public will question every detail of every decision made. I am proud of my work on the board and the relationships that developed over the years. For the board to continue its course unfettered, I must step down as director.”
Charges to move forward after preliminary hearing
District Judge Don Hahn ruled Wednesday that Centre County prosecutors presented enough evidence at Bechdel’s preliminary hearing to see the charges move forward.
The woman testified with two black eyes a week after the alleged assault. Appearing without a defense lawyer, Bechdel did not challenge or dispute the allegation he assaulted the woman.
He instead questioned State College police officer Lucas Sharer about when he received his Miranda warning. Sharer defended the arrest, testifying that Bechdel’s statements were voluntary and came before he was in custody.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, the woman told State College police Bechdel began arguing with her about her drinking habits after he drove her to the Sheetz along Shiloh Road in College Township. She said Bechdel reached across the car, opened the passenger door and shoved her out along the road while the vehicle was in motion.
After Bechdel drove the woman home, he allegedly struck her on the left side of her face with a backhanded, closed-fist swing because she would not get out of the car, she told police. Bechdel then shoved her out of the car into her driveway and drove away, she said.
The woman reported injuries to her nose and foot and said she was run over by Bechdel’s vehicle. According to the affidavit, the officer saw “noticeable bruising and swelling” under her left eye and blood on her hands.
Police, who located Bechdel at the Lowe’s in Patton Township, said he admitted to striking the woman in the face “and described the strike exactly” as she did. According to the affidavit, Bechdel claimed he struck the woman only because she struck him first on the right side of his face and mouth while driving.
The officer did not observe visible injuries to the face of Bechdel, who said the woman knocked his front tooth loose. According to the affidavit, the officer observed a loose tooth at the front of Bechdel’s mouth but wrote most of his teeth were already rotted or missing.
Bechdel was arraigned April 4 by District Judge Allen Sinclair and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
His next court appearance is scheduled for May 7.
Filling a vacancy
Bellefonte’s board is already accepting applications to fill the short-term vacancy. The seat expires in December.
Interested residents must submit an application, resume and letter of interest by noon Friday, April 18. The application form is available online and should be submitted to Leslie Elder, administrative assistant to the superintendent, via email (lelder@basd.net) or by mail (318 N. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte, PA 16823).
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of the appointment.
The board’s remaining eight members will select the person who will fill the vacancy after candidates are interviewed before April 22’s school board meeting at Bellefonte Area Middle School.
Bechdel won election to the Bellefonte school board in 2021 and was one of the five candidates who filed to run for election to the board this year.
Bechdel’s name will remain on the May primary ballot because the deadline to withdraw passed on March 26. He told the Centre Daily Times he “highly doubts” he would win in the primary but would have until August to decide whether to withdraw from November’s ballot if necessary.
Bret Pallotto contributed to this report.
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