'This Behavior Is Viewed as Exploitive'
Everett police are investigating a 35-year-old high school science teacher.
Even though the student is 17 and over the age of consent, the special nature of the teacher-student relationship could make this affair criminal.
Police say the 17-year-old had known the teacher for seven years. But the relationship blossomed at Jackson High School, becoming sexual late this summer.
"A teacher in our society is expected to always have the best interests of the student at heart," says Everett Police Sergeant Ted Olafson, "and this sort of behavior is viewed as exploitive."
The victim says she frequently saw the teacher when she worked at Jackson High for summer school.
Court documents indicate that when classes ended, the science teacher "gave her his address and phone number and stated that he cared about her, then kissed her." Later, he "invited her onto his boat. The first time on the boat they kissed each other."
Even though the victim is 17 and technically over the age of consent, the law makes a special protection for students who could be under the sway of people in power, such as teachers.
"Clearly the law was written to put that responsibility on the adult in the case," says Olafson.
Court documents show that over the past two months the pair had sex somewhere between 20 to 30 times. Most often it was at the teacher's house, but they also had sex on campus, in the storage room at the high school. The whole thing came tumbling down when the victim's mother overheard a conversation between her daughter and an unknown male voice.
The mother reported the situation to police who are now investigating this as Sexual Misconduct with a Minor. It is a class C felony, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison.
The teacher is currently on paid administrative leave while police wrap up their investigation and consider whether charges should be filed.