2nd teacher in W.Pa. district faces sex charges

MONESSEN, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania teacher was arrested on sex charges a day after an ex-teacher from the same district was accused of having sexual contact with three students.

Police and state agents arrested 26-year-old industrial arts teacher Michael Cirner on Wednesday after he left work at the Monessen School District.

Prosecutors say Cirner had sexually explicit online chats with two investigators he thought were 13- and 14-year-old girls. The alleged conversations began in March and continued until Cirner’s arrest.

Cirner was arrested a day after authorities filed sex charges against former Monessen teacher Ashley Herre-Bagwell. She was fired in June.

Cirner was arraigned and sent to Westmoreland County Prison on $75,000 bail.