Gaspare Nichola Gambino, age 34 of Honesdale was arrested today and charged with 14 counts of Invasion of Privacy, a Misdemeanor of the 2nd Degree. The Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Pennsylvania Trooper Gregory Allen alleges that Gambino has been employed as a Spanish teacher by the Wayne Highlands School District since 2015. According to the Affidavit for Arrest on September 19, 2017, it was discovered that Gambino had been surreptitiously taking numerous photographs of at least 14 girls. The photographs were of the close ups of girls breasts and private areas under their skirts and dresses. The photos were all taken at Honesdale High School in Gambino’s classroom and known school surroundings. Some of the photos appeared to have been taken from a seated position at Gambino’s desk.
Gambino was arraigned today by Magisterial District Judge Linus Myers and bail was set at $10,000.00 with conditions of no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18 and to surrender his passport. Gambino is scheduled for an initial appearance at Central Court in the Wayne County Courthouse on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.
Gambino was placed on administrative leave by the Wayne Highlands School District on September 21, 2017. Any inquiries regarding Gambino’s status at the Wayne Highland School District should be directed to Tim Morgan, Assistant Superintendent.
The State Police are continuing to investigate this matter and anyone with information regarding this matter should contact Pennsylvania State Police at (570)-253-7126.
District Attorney Pat Robinson stated that “these allegations are very disturbing and will be vigorously pursued. The Pennsylvania Legislature addressed this very situation when it amended the Invasion of Privacy section of the Crimes Code in 2005.”
The filing of criminal charges in not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Commonwealth against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the Commonwealth has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges.
