EVERETT — A judge has sentenced a former Bothell counselor accused of inappropriately touching children to two years of probation.
Brian Hall, 61, was charged in 2019 with one count of indecent liberties and three counts of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation.
The former family counselor specialized in working with “young, fatherless boys.”
In 2018, a 10-year-old boy reported Hall put a pillow on his lap and had the boy rest his head on it during a counseling session. He played with the boy’s hair and touched him underneath the shirt. Sometimes he would kiss the boy on the forehead.
When Hall was charged in Snohomish County Superior Court, seven sexual assault protection orders were filed against him, preventing him from coming into contact with seven children, including the 10-year-old.
The other boys reported similar experiences with Hall. They reported that Hall would hug them, hold their hands, kiss them on the forehead, and say he loved them. One boy said the counselor wouldn’t touch him the same way when his mother was in the room with them.
Hall’s licenses as a counselor, social worker and chemical dependency professional were suspended by the state Department of Health when he was charged.
Last month, Hall pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree assault.
At a sentencing hearing this week, Superior Court Judge Janice Ellis ordered that along with probation, Hall may not have unsupervised contact with minors unless they are biological relatives.
Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; ellen.dennis@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterellen.
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