SCOTT TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A high school senior in Lackawanna County will no longer be allowed in school after being charged with raping three fellow students.
Lakeland senior Nicholas Rosencrance, 19, is accused of assaulting two of those girls in Lackawanna County and the third during a trip to Maryland.
The allegations were brought to the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office last month when those girls contacted their school resource officer at Lakeland.
“Victims are always in a very difficult spot, so I commend them for their courage to move forward, and I would encourage anybody else who would have information to come forward,” said Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell. “We did receive some additional information that we are continuing to investigate.”
One girl alleges Rosencrance sexually assaulted her in Ocean City, Maryland when they were on a trip for senior week. The district attorney says authorities in Maryland are handling that case.
The other two girls say Rosencrance forced himself on them separately while at a party he hosted at “The Spot” in Greenfield Township on August 4. Lackawanna County is investigating those claims.
Some students at Lakeland are surprised by Rosencrance's arrest.
“Yeah, a little bit,” said sophomore Gavin Bruno. “I was pretty close friends with him. He was a nice kid, I thought.”
According to the district attorney, as part of Rosencrance's bail conditions, he is no longer allowed to attend school at Lakeland.
“He has been removed from the school, so he will not have any contact with any of the victims,” said Powell.
A group of friends who get their exercise together by walking around the Lakeland School District were also shocked to hear the news.
“I didn't even know anything about it. I just came back from vacation. This is the first, but it is shocking. It's too bad,” said Patti Colaschino. “You have it everywhere, but when it happens it hits home, you know. It's tough.”
Rosencrance is scheduled to be back in court next Monday.