Another Lancaster County high school became embroiled in a sex scandal Tuesday when police arrested the former leader of McCaskey High School's gospel choir and accused him of having a seven-month sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.

Police arrested Norman McMillan III, 25, at his East Frederick Street home Tuesday morning. He is charged with numerous sex crimes, including nine felonies stemming from the alleged affair he had with the female student from November 2005 to June 2006.

McMillan had sex with the girl at the high school, his home, a friend's home and in a vehicle, according to a police affidavit filed Tuesday afternoon.

Detective Andrew Morgan of Lancaster city police filed the charges after consulting with Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Franz.

McMillan married in March 2007 and has two young daughters, according to newspaper records.

He is the third adult involved in a county high school's music program to be charged this year with engaging in a sexual relationship with a student.

McMillan was not a teacher at McCaskey but was contracted by School District of Lancaster to direct the gospel choir, SDL spokeswoman Kelly Burkholder said.

He worked for the district from March 2004 until September 2006, when the administration learned of allegations of inappropriate contact between McMillan and a student, she said.

The district immediately informed Lancaster city police, Burkholder said, and McMillan's contract was not renewed.

She declined to say how the district learned of the allegations or whether it conducted its own investigation.

"The administration's action in turning the information over to the police department was taken in the best interests of the students in the School District of Lancaster," Burkholder said.

The alleged victim contacted police last month, which led to McMillan's arrest, according to documents.

Police and school officials declined to say whether the alleged victim, now 17, was a member of the gospel choir. Court documents indicate the victim had knowledge that McMillan was director of the choir.

Police charged McMillan with five counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and four counts of statutory sexual assault. The latter charges were filed because the alleged victim was under 16, McMillan was more than four years her elder, and the two were not married.

He also was charged with misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and corruption of minors.

If he's convicted, the offenses carry a maximum prison sentence that mean McMillan could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The suspect was incarcerated at Lancaster County Prison Tuesday night on $750,000 bail, officials said.

Police charged McMillan with two sexual encounters that allegedly happened at the high school. Court documents do not specify where the incidents happened at the school.

Police officials said school officials "cooperated fully" during the investigation.

"No one can predict that sort of behavior," police Chief Keith Sadler said. "He was employed there, and any employee would have an expectation that he would behave properly."

The gospel choir is now directed by Fatima Lewis, school officials said. Teacher Colette Scott also provides classroom instruction to members of the choir, according to officials.

Burkholder said counselors will be available at McCaskey today to speak with students who might be upset by the allegations.

Cases are pending against two other county residents with ties to scholastic music programs.

Columbia Junior/Senior High School music teacher and band director Robert E. Richards was charged in April with sexual assault for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student in 2007 when the student was 15 and 16 years old.

Richards, 33, of 3808 Laurel Drive, Columbia, allegedly engaged in sex acts with the student inside the high school and in Richards' home in April, May and November 2007.

He is charged with four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, three counts each of statutory sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors.

Richards has been suspended.

Former Warwick High School music teacher and band director Todd Sheerer was charged in January with six counts of corruption of minors for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with a female band member from January 2006 until January 2008.

The student is now 17.

Sheerer, 30, of 3471 Coronet Ave., was charged by police in Lititz and Manheim boroughs and Warwick, Penn and Manheim townships.

He was fired April 1 by Warwick school board, which agreed to provide $75,000 to the student's family for emotional counseling.

Both Sheerer and Richards are awaiting trial.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com

E-mail: bwallace@lnpnews.com