Charges Against Guidance Counselor Withdrawn - Updated

(Hughesville, Pennsylvania) Lycoming County District Attorney Eric R. Linhardt has decided not to pursue prosecution of 37-year-old Jennifer Villacrusis because of lack of evidence.

Linhardt explained his rationale for not prosecuting the case, which centered on insufficient evidence.

He concluded there was reasonable doubt, adding he did not believe a jury would yield a verdict finding her guilty based on the existing evidence.

“When this office states that there is a ‘reasonable doubt,’ we are not stating that we have concluded that Villacrusis is, in fact, innocent,” Linhardt said. “We are stating that the evidence compels us to conclude that her innocence is a reasonable possibility.

“As prosecutors, we have an ethical responsibility to not pursue cases where there is a reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt,” Linhardt said. “This office has not, and will not, prosecute defendants who might reasonably be innocent.

“The decision not to prosecute is no comment on the quality of the investigation done by state police,” Linhardt added. “To the contrary, the troopers assigned to the matter have worked tirelessly and have produced an investigation of the highest quality, which produced both incriminating and exculpatory evidence.”

Villacrusis now lives in another state and reportedly will be seeking to continue her career as a guidance counselor.


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School Counselor Accused of Sex with Boy
[Previous 12/29/06 entry]
(Hughesville, Pennsylvania) A 35-year-old guidance counselor with the East Lycoming School District, Jennifer Marie Villacrusis, has been accused of engaging in a sex with a 16-year-old boy.

Villacrusis, a married mother of two, is charged with corruption of minors and interference with the custody of a child.

Villacrusis allegedly had sex with the boy at her office in school and at her home near Hughesville. Her attorney, George Lepley, has stated that Villacrusis is the actual victim in the case.

School officials will decide on her employment status next month. Villacrusis is scheduled for a court date in February.