Associated Press
TACOMA — An alternative education teacher from Sequim has been convicted in federal court of 10 counts of child pornography and related offenses
Dennis Peterson, 49, remained free on $10,000 bond pending sentencing March 15 by U.S. District Judge Franklin Burgess.
Investigators said he took dozens of photographs at Sequim Community School, one girl’s home and a Sequim motel.
Peterson has been on paid leave, but the conviction means his state teaching certificate may now be revoked, Sequim School Board member June Robinson said.
He was arrested Jan. 22 after female students told investigators he asked them to pose nude.
Clallam County prosecutors initially charged him with six counts of sexually exploiting young girls and one count of first-degree theft involving a missing school computer.
Federal lawyers subsequently filed a complaint that accused him of telling a 16-year-old girl and two 17-year-olds they could earn thousands of dollars if they allowed nude pictures of themselves to be posted on an Internet site.
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