Skyline teacher indicted on child sex crimes, likely to enter plea

Accused teacher Steven Bretsch after his March 7 arrest – Photo/RSW Regional Jail

FRONT ROYAL – Former Skyline High School teacher Steven Bretsch was indicted Wednesday by a Warren County grand jury, accused of improper sexual contact with two female students.

The 33-year-old Bretsch, of Haymarket, is charged with two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial relationship.  Two other charges were dropped when Bretsch waived his right to a preliminary hearing in June.

Bretsch’s attorney, Steven Duckett, was not in the courtroom on Wednesday.  Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Layton said that the former educator is expected to enter a plea agreement at his next hearing date, July 17, at 1:30 p.m. in Warren County Circuit Court.

A criminal complaint cites three specific incidents of sexual contact between Bretsch and the girls during a four-month period between March 1 and June 30, 2016.  Bretsch was arrested on March 7, 2017.  All three of the alleged incidents allegedly occurred at Skyline High School.

Steven Bretsch – Photo WCPS website

According to the March 8 press release from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, following interviews with the two students and school officials on March 7, 2017, Warren County and Prince William law enforcement searched Bretsch’s Haymarket home in Prince William County and then arrested him without incident.

He was transferred from the Prince William County Adult Detention Center to the RSW Regional Jail.  He is being held in lieu of bond.  Bretsch faces up to five years in prison on each conviction.