The Williamsport Area School District has agreed to retain a law firm to provide legal services to defend an employee in a lawsuit filed by five former district students alleging sexual misconduct by a teacher.

The board approved retaining Post & Schell, P.C. of Philadelphia to provide legal assistance to Christopher Yoder. The school district was required by state law to provide Yoder representation when he requested it.

“The board resolution is not to be construed as an agreement to indemnify the employee in the event that a judgment is ultimately awarded against Yoder nor to pay for any judgment,” the district resolution states.

In court, Yoder has been acquitted two times of criminal charges related to the same alleged activities. A charge in a district judge’s court was dismissed in a third case after a preliminary hearing.

Separately, another teacher, Mel Mitstifer, is a defendant in the suit in Lycoming County Court. The complaint alleges misconduct by Yoder between 2011 and 2021. In the complaint, the defendants (who are not identified) said the district knew Yoder was a “pedophile … and a creep” but allowed him to continue to teach, placing students at risk, according to the suit.

Mitstifer allegedly witnessed aspects of inappropriate conduct in Yoder’s classroom on occasion but did not inform supervisors. The district and Mitstifer are seeking dismissal of the former students’ suit.