New allegations surface in Lynnwood teacher sex investigation

Published 1:30 am Thursday, October 27, 2016

LYNNWOOD — A Lynnwood High School teacher already was under investigation for having an improper relationship with a former student when school staff heard reports that she and a current student had engaged in sex, according to new court documents.

Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies arrested the woman earlier this month after allegations surfaced that she had started a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student in April. Charges have not been filed in the case.

Principal David Golden contacted the school’s resource officer Sept. 30, reporting that he was investigating allegations that the school’s choir teacher had an improper relationship with a former student last year, sheriff’s detective Larry Cole wrote in an affidavit for a search warrant.

The student, now 19, no longer attends the school “but the administration was still in the process of investigating the situation,” the affidavit said.

The teacher was put on paid leave at that point, Edmonds School District spokeswoman Debbie Joyce Jakala said.

Less than a week later, the school’s assistant principal reported to police that a student told staff that the teacher, 25, also had been involved in a sexual relationship with another student who currently attends the high school.

The school resource officer interviewed the boy, now 17, the next day. The teen was hesitant to talk and initially denied the relationship, Cole wrote. The student eventually admitted that he and his teacher had started a sexual relationship in the spring. They first began communicating outside of school via the school choir’s Facebook page.

He told police they first arranged to meet off school grounds in April. She drove them to an Everett park, where they allegedly had sex in a wooded area, according to court documents.

The teen told police they were interrupted when the woman’s husband sent a text asking her where she was. They left the park and drove to another park, where they engaged in sex again, according to the search warrant.

The boy said they had sex multiple times, including at the teacher’s apartment. He said they also sent each other nude pictures. They reportedly went on dates, including going out to lunch and shopping, court papers said. He told police they also kissed during a school field trip in June.

The relationship lasted several months until finally in July the woman allegedly told the teen she could no longer see him because she was feeling guilty about cheating on her husband, the search warrant said.

Court records show that the woman filed for divorce in mid-September.

The teen told police they had contact once since July — a short conversation in a hallway after school started this fall.

Detectives obtained the warrant to search the woman’s apartment Oct. 12. She wasn’t home but returned to the apartment at the request of police. They learned that she’d moved out a few weeks ago. The woman was arrested for investigation of sexual misconduct with a minor. She declined to speak with police.

Detectives continue to investigate, and have obtained warrants to search the woman’s computer, social media accounts and cell phone records.

As of Wednesday, the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction had not received a complaint about the teacher from the school district, according to a spokesman.

Jakala said the district is waiting to take any additional steps while the case remains with police. “We don’t want to do anything to interfere with the investigation,” she said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.