Boalsburg woman sues CPI after alleged indecent assault by instructor

The seven-count lawsuit includes claims of assault, negligence, sex discrimination and retaliation.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:20pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled piece of paper with a pen resting on top, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the evidence and investigation surrounding an alleged assault case at a technical school.A stark, close-up image of evidence from an alleged assault case at a Pennsylvania technical school, exposing the gritty realities of campus misconduct.Boalsburg Today

A Boalsburg woman has filed a lawsuit against the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, alleging the school failed to take action after an instructor allegedly indecently assaulted her in a classroom. The woman claims she was penalized for reporting the instructor's 'predatory behavior' and suffered financial losses and missed academic and professional opportunities as a result.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issue of sexual misconduct allegations on college campuses and the challenges victims face in reporting such incidents and receiving appropriate support from their institutions. It also raises questions about the school's handling of the situation and whether proper protocols were followed.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the woman warned school administrators about instructor Jerome F. Kinney's 'predatory behavior' days before he allegedly grabbed her upper thigh and chest in front of other students. Multiple students reportedly witnessed the alleged assault. The woman said she was later removed from Kinney's class after reporting the allegation, and the school declined to refund her tuition for the semester, forcing her to wait to reenroll.

  • The alleged incident occurred earlier in the 2026 school year.
  • The woman filed the lawsuit on April 7, 2026.

The players

Boalsburg woman

The plaintiff in the lawsuit who alleges she was indecently assaulted by an instructor at CPI.

Jerome F. Kinney

The CPI instructor who is accused of indecently assaulting the Boalsburg woman in a classroom.

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI)

The school named in the lawsuit for allegedly failing to take action after the reported assault and penalizing the woman for reporting the incident.

Scott Etter

The solicitor for CPI who stated that Kinney has not been an employee since 'early in the school year'.

MaryAnn Volders

The president of CPI who declined further comment on the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“'CPI's retaliatory actions compounded Plaintiff's trauma by conveying that reporting sexual misconduct would result in punishment rather than protection.'”

— Edwin Leon, Attorney for the Boalsburg woman

What’s next

The lawsuit is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how CPI will respond to the allegations and whether any criminal charges will be filed against the instructor.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges victims of sexual misconduct face in reporting incidents and receiving appropriate support from their institutions. It underscores the need for colleges and universities to have robust policies and procedures in place to address such allegations and protect students from retaliation.