Police: Pa. teacher faked inoperable brain tumor for years, forged papers to take sick leave

Police: Pa. teacher faked inoperable brain tumor

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Police in central Pennsylvania say a middle school teacher lied for years about having an inoperable brain tumor.

Fifty-one-year-old Leslie Herneisey (her-NY-zee) of Middletown is accused of faking documents to take sick leave. She faces 12 counts of forgery.

Police say Herneisey missed work at Middletown Middle School over the years for treatment of a purported tumor. But her lack of symptoms made district officials suspicious.

Lower Swatara Township police say Herneisey forged papers saying she needed weeks of chemotherapy and would be unable to teach.

Detective Robert Appleby says Herneisey admitted the fabrication and resigned in May. She was arraigned last week and a preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 5.

Her attorney, Terry McGowan, says Herneisey is battling depression.