Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

Kentlake High School teacher arrested for investigation of sex crimes

Alleged communication with a minor for immoral purposes and sexual misconduct with a minor

The King County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Kentlake High School teacher for investigation of communication with a minor for immoral purposes and sexual misconduct with a minor.

Detectives arrested the 44-year-old man Dec. 16 at his Kent home. He was booked into the King County jail and released the next day on $50,000 bail.

“King County prosecutors argued that he should be held on $100,000 bail because of the danger to the community,” said Casey McNerthney, a King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson in a Dec. 19 email. “The first appearance judge set bail at $50,000.”

McNerthney said on Monday the documents required by law for a charging decision have not yet been sent to prosecutors by the Sheriff’s Office. According to court documents, the Sheriff’s Office expects to file those papers this week.

“If or when they do send those, King County prosecutors plan to act on those with urgency,” McNerthney said.

The teacher is not being named by the Kent Reporter because (as of Dec. 19) he has not yet been formally charged. Kent School District officials removed the teacher’s name from the online Kentlake staff directory.

The Kent Reporter first reported the incident Dec. 9 after the Kentlake principal sent an email to parents about a staff member placed on administrative leave after allegations of inappropriate behavior.

According to court documents, the teacher allegedly kissed a 15-year-old female student on the neck, and inappropriately touched her on the chest, face and thigh while in his classroom during after school hours.

He also reportedly communicated with the student through Instagram, according to court documents. He told her she looked “hot” when she dressed a certain way and started to call her pet names such as “babe” and “cupcake,” and told her he loved her.

The teacher reportedly gave the teen gifts and showed her $700 in cash that he wanted to spend on her at a makeup store. The girl declined to go to the store.

The Instagram direct messages reportedly started on Nov. 18, according to court documents.

The student told someone about the alleged incidents and that person contacted law enforcement.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Soos Creek Water & Sewer District corrects billing errors

One customer received a bill for $9,000; district serves parts of Kent, Auburn, Renton and other cities

Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia. File photo
Schools, housing, salaries score big in Senate Dems $70B budget

The proposed spending plan also spends money to fight climate change, help abortion providers and study police pursuits

t
SeaTac girl pleads guilty to hit-and-run murder of Maple Valley man

Judge sentences the 17-year-old to remain in custody until she turns 21; maximum allowed by law

File photo.
Audit finds accountability issues in King County’s equity and social justices programs

Auditors say the county lacks progress tracking, clearly defined roles and accountability measures.

t
Northwest Kidney Centers opening Panther Lake location in Kent

Open house set for 2-4 p.m. Thursday, March 30

Courtesy Photo, Metro Creative Graphics
Kent man faces murder charge in 2022 Auburn case of man found shot

The two men apparently were friends; man found inside vehicle

State Capitol Building in Olympia, WA. File photo
New forecast show state revenues won’t be quite as robust as expected

Democratic budget writers say they will be cautious but able to fund their priorities. Senate put out a capital budget Monday.

Elements of the city’s interactive space-themed park being lowered in. (Screenshot from Kent Youtube page)
Aerospace industry among Kent’s top economic boosters

Mayor said the Kent Valley is home to about 250,000 jobs.

Most Read