Former Delaware Teacher Sentenced for Inappropriately Touching Several Students

State of DE - A former elementary school teacher is headed to prison after admitting to inappropriately touching several young students between the ages of 7 and 8 years old.

Vincent Buckwash, 58, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 10, 2026. He previously taught at Anna P. Mote Elementary School in Wilmington, Delaware.

Buckwash received three years of Level V prison time. That will be followed by six months of Level IV supervision and two years of probation.

The sentence came after Buckwash pleaded guilty to Unlawful Sexual Contact. His punishment actually exceeds state sentencing guidelines, which don't require any minimum mandatory prison time.

Buckwash also faces several strict conditions going forward. He must register as a Tier III sex offender, stay away from all victims, and avoid unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

He'll also need to complete sex offender evaluation, counseling, and treatment. The Tier III designation means he'll be a registered sex offender for life.

Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings spoke strongly about the case. "The defendant made a conscious, repeated, and deliberate decision to commit sickening acts against innocent children, children that, as an educator, he had a sworn duty to protect," she said.

"Now, he's going to prison and will be registered as a sex offender for life," Jennings continued.

"I am grateful to our trial team for their work in securing this exceptional result; I'm grateful still for the remarkable courage that the victims showed in coming forward."

The case first came to light in May 2024. School administrators and the Delaware Division of Family Services alerted state police after several students reported incidents involving Buckwash.

The school district acted quickly once the allegations surfaced. Buckwash was immediately removed from the school and never returned to the classroom.

Investigators later determined that Buckwash had touched five students inappropriately over their clothing. The incidents happened on multiple occasions during the 2023-2024 school year, and the victims were between the ages of seven and eight years old.

Arrest warrants for Buckwash were issued on August 14, 2025. He turned himself in that same day at Delaware State Police Troop 2.

The case highlights the importance of students, families, and schools speaking up when something feels wrong. Quick reporting helped remove Buckwash from the classroom and ultimately led to accountability.