Warning: The details of this story are graphic and may be disturbing for some readers. A Bucks County piano teacher was sentenced for sexually abusing several young boys during private lessons. Léelo en español aquí. Timothy Shay, 50, of Plumstead Township, Pennsylvania, was convicted o f indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old and corruption of minors. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, he was sentenced to 18 to 54 years in prison after 18 of his victims read impact statements. Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673. Officials said a joint investigation by the Middletown Township Police Department and the Newtown Township Police Department began in February 2025 when police received a report of suspected child sexual abuse that occurred at a home in Langhorne, Middletown Township. The victim reported that the sexual abuse happened between the years of 1998 and 2003 when he was a child and Shay was his private piano instructor. Officials said the lessons occurred at the victim’s residence and the abuse progressed over the years. The abuse began with Shay massaging the victim’s wrists, which he described as warmups before piano lessons. Shay then massaged the victim’s forearms and worked his way up his arms and neck. Crime and Courts Jan 31, 2025 Bucks County man gets decades in prison for repeated rape of girl Bucks County Jan 29, 2025 Officials: Bucks County man abused dogs for hours, stabbed them to death As time went on, Shay moved the warmups from the piano bench to a couch, and massaged more parts of the victim’s body. Shay also told the victim never to speak to anyone about the warmups. The victim said the inappropriate contact happened between 30 and 50 times. A second victim, also from Langhorne, came forward and said Shay was his piano teacher when he was a child between 1998 and 2003. The victim also shared that Shay massaged him, claiming it would help with playing the piano. During the massage, Shay pulled up the victim’s elastic waistband and pressed his abdomen just above his genitals. The skin-to-skin contact happened between three and five times. A third victim told police that Shay was his piano instructor in the late 1990s and early 2000s when he was a child living in Newtown Township. During the first lessons, the victim said Shay massaged his back and other parts of his body. He also asked the victim to lie on the piano bench, and Shay masaged the victim’s groin over his clothes. A fourth victim reported being eight years old when he had Shay as a piano instructor in Newtown Township. The victim told police Shay massaged his inner and upper thighs, claiming it would help relieve tension in the area. Police said there were at least 14 other victims. Shay showed no emotion as the 18 victims — now young men — confronted him directly in court on Tuesday and read their impact statements before his sentencing. In addition to his sentencing, Shay will be listed as a registered sex offender for life. After Shay’s arrest, investigators said they believed there were other victims and asked for them to come forward. Anyone with information can contact Middletown Township Detective John Beck at 215-750-3872. Timothy Shay ...read more read less