BELLEFONTE — Effective April 4, 2025, Bellefonte Area School District Board Member Jack Bechdel, II, 58, of Bellefonte, has resigned from his role after being arrested and charged with allegedly shoving a female passenger from a moving vehicle.

Bechdel was charged with misdemeanor simple assault, a summary count of physical harassment and cited for driving with a suspended license, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

He was arraigned Thursday morning by Centre County District Judge Allen Sinclair and later released on $10,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 9.

According to State College police, the woman, told police he had driven her to Sheetz and began arguing with her about her drinking habits before getting physical.

Bechdel then allegedly reached across her and opened the passenger side door while the vehicle was in motion, and pushed her out along Shiloh Road; she also said “her left ankle had been run over after being shoved out of the vehicle,” police said.

The woman reentered the vehicle and asked Bechdel to take her home; when they arrived at her residence the woman said Bechdel “struck her on the side of her face with a backhand swing while his fist was closed because she wouldn’t get out of the vehicle,” police said.

Police wrote Bechdel then shoved her out of the car into the driveway and drove away.

According to the affidavit, an officer reported the woman had “noticeable bruising and swelling under her left eye along with blood on her hands.”

Bechdel was located at Lowe’s in Patton Township where a borough police officer interviewed him.

During this interview, Bechdel admitted he struck the woman in the way she had previously described, but claimed he “only struck (her) because she struck him first while he was actively operating his vehicle on the roadway.”

According to the affidavit, an officer observed no signs of injury to Bechdel’s face. Bechdel said his front tooth was knocked loose, which was confirmed by an officer, but the officer also noted that most of Bechdel’s teeth were rotted or missing.

Bechdel was also cited for driving with a suspended license due to a previous violation, police said.

Bechdel addressed his fellow school board members in a statement posted to the Tor Michaels-Show on Facebook, in which he said, “Being a part of the school board and a public official I have had to live to a higher standard, both public and private.

“Recent events in my private life have been made known to everyone. To be clear, these events have no relation to anything with the Bellefonte Area School District, the Board of Directors or any associates. My actions has drawn a spotlight on the board that is not warranted. The Board must be able to focus on the needs of the students and their education,” he wrote.

“As long as I am on the board during this period, the public will question every detail of every decision made. I am proud of my work on the board and the relationships that (have) developed over the years. For the board to continue its course unfettered, I must step down as director. This decision was not taken lightly and I dread that things had to end this way. I wish the board the best and hope that they continue to have civil discussion in the future,” he concluded, thanking his fellow school board members, the employees and students of the school district and public at large for their time and patience.

The Express has reached out to Board President Jon Guizar and Superintendent Roy Rakszawski but had not received a response as of press time Monday.

Bechdel, who was in the final year of his term after being elected in 2021, was up for reelection, alongside board members Nate Campbell, Jon Guizar and Kristin Lyons.

Bechdel’s name will appear on the May primary ballot, as the March 26 withdrawal deadline has passed. With four seats available and only four candidates in the race, he is expected to advance to the November election. He will have until August to withdraw from November’s ballot.