Judge Chichilitti Recuses Himself from Special Needs Teacher Harassment Case

The summary trial hearing for a former Bristol Borough School District elementary school autistic support teacher has been moved to another court, due to District Judge David J. Chichilitti recusing himself  from the proceedings.

The move by Chichilitti had been hinted at for months and was finally processed and reassigned late last month.  He was the School Board President when Stephanie Kleinfelder was hired to fill the position last June.

Kleinfelder is accused of  physically harassing a child student on the autism  spectrum with verbal challenges late last year.  She recently entered a not guilty plea to the summary offenses and is now represented by Neff & Sedacca PC of Philadelphia.

The case will now be heard by District Judge Terrence Hughes on July 9 in Levittown.

Court officials said the recusal and venue move were actually finalized on April 23 but the information had yet to be updated on the states’ court docketing system till after that date.

The former educator declined in March to respond to requests for comment about the summary violations story or a prior incident school district officials reviewed.

Chichilitti was not immediately available for comment about his recusal from the case as of publication time.