(NewsNation) — A former school resource officer in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is facing child sex abuse charges.
Stephen J. Carroll, 49, is accused of raping multiple students while working as a school resource officer at West Scranton High School.
The alleged sexual abuse dates back to 2009 and took place at Carroll's home as well as the high school itself, according to the Pennsylvania attorney general's office.
"This public servant took an oath to protect his community and was specifically assigned to look out for the well-being of students — instead he used his position of authority to groom and sexually assault multiple teenagers,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement.
Five victims are mentioned in court documents, with three said to be students at West Scranton High School at the time of the assaults, NewsNation local affiliate WBRE reported.
Carroll was a Scranton police officer at the time of the alleged crimes, but he is no longer employed by the department, the AG's office said.
Pennsylvania State Police charged Carroll with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, official oppression, institutional sexual assault and other offenses.
Authorities said recent interviews and evidence collection led to the filing of charges this week.
The 49-year-old was arrested Friday morning and arraigned. Bail was set at $500,000.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 3, 2025.