ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Parkland High School's former performing arts director has rejected a plea deal on charges he secretly recorded a male student in a school changing room.
Francis Anonia, of Allentown, moved one step closer to a trial, after appearing Tuesday before Lehigh County Judge Robert Steinberg for a brief conference hearing.
Sara Moyer, the assistant district attorney prosecuting the case, told Steinberg that her office offered Anonia a plea deal, which Anonia rejected.
If Anonia and prosecutors can't reach a plea agreement, the case will go to trial in early September, with jury selection set to begin Sept. 2.
Lehigh County Court records
Anonia’s lawyer, Richard Coble, said prosecutors only turned over discovery materials within the past week.
Once he has a chance to review the evidence and evaluate the prosecution's case, Coble said, he will make a counteroffer.
If Anonia and prosecutors can't reach a plea agreement, the case will go to trial in early September, with jury selection set to begin Sept. 2.
Anonia faces 20 charges in all, including invasion of privacy, intercepting communications and criminal use of a telecommunications facility.
According to a criminal complaint, Anonia is alleged to have had inappropriate contact with a juvenile male member of a school musical in 2022.
The student took the allegations to a teacher, who reported them to ChildLine, a hotline that allows people to reported suspected child abuse or neglect.
No charges have been filed in connection with that case.
As the investigation continued, it also revealed five separate video files extracted from Anonia's phone that he allegedly recorded in 2021 while it was hidden on a shelf in the Parkland High School Auditorium boys' changing room, authorities said.