Apr 26, 2019 4 min read

A former employee of the Goldfish Swim School in Peters Township has been charged for allegedly having teenage girls over to his home and providing them with alcohol.

Robert Neal Keller, 44, of 210 Cedar Hill Drive, Peters Township, is charged with interference with custody of children, a third-degree felony, as well as misdemeanors of corruption of minors, harassment and furnishing liquor to a minor.

The criminal complaint describes interactions Keller allegedly had with three different juvenile girls. He is accused of sending them sexually explicit text messages and inviting them over to his residence.

Peters Township Police Department was informed of the communications and alleged inappropriate behavior with “several” teenage girls.

While at work at the Goldfish Swim School, Keller was overheard making a lewd comment about three girls walking into the showers, police said.

“This is my fantasy, seeing me and three hot chicks in a shower,” he was heard saying, according to the complaint.

The complaint states Keller had focused his attention on another 16-year-old girl, and sent her a sexually explicit text message.

Goldfish Swim School Regional Manager Christine Palmer told the Observer-Reporter in an emailed statement that they were made aware of allegations that Keller had “acted inappropriately in a sexual nature towards another employee.

“Because the safety of our team members and students are our top priority, after we learned of the allegations, the employee was removed from the premises and his employment was terminated,” Palmer said.

Her statement continued: “It is important to note we do not condone this type of behavior at Goldfish Swim School, and have policies in place, including background checks for new employees, to ensure we are taking all necessary precautions to not hire people with previous infractions. We pride ourselves on providing a safe environment for our students and team members. We want to reassure our students, members, and employees that this is an isolated incident.”

Palmer added that the school could not comment further because the case against Keller is an ongoing legal matter.

On April 10, Keller appeared unscheduled at the Peters Township police station and consented to an interview.

According to the complaint, he admitted to using sexual language with the first alleged victim, and “expressed an infatuation” with her, “where he believed she was inhabited by the soul of a deceased former girlfriend,” the complaint states.

Police said Keller invited the victim to his residence multiple times and offered to let her stay overnight.

The communication allegedly continued over the course of the past several months. The complaint states that during that time, “Keller furnished alcohol to her, looked into helping her obtain a tattoo without legitimate parental consent and investigated ways to get her emancipated from her parents,” the complaint states.

When trying to get the girl to visit his home, Keller allegedly would “offer false pretenses” so the victim would not have to tell her parents where she was going. He would also instruct her to leave her phone behind to obfuscate her true location, police said.

“All the while, Keller’s communications with Victim #1 were littered with comments of a sexual nature,” the complaint states.

In March, the complaint accuses Keller of inviting another 16-year-old girl to his residence. This girl accepted his invitation, and Keller provided her with alcohol, police said. He also allegedly sent this girl sexual text messages and had asked her to send photos of herself.

According to the complaint, a third victim, 17 years old, had refused Keller’s overtures. She told police Keller had sent her text messages commenting on her appearance, “which were unwanted and lewd.”

Keller was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before District Judge Jesse Pettit. He was released from Washington County jail after posting 10% of his $50,000 monetary bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. April 30 before Pettit.