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FRIDAY, OCT. 30, 2015
Hazen teacher fired for 2006 sexual contact with 14-year-old Teacher was fired prior to the school year after victim came forward in August BY BRIAN BECKLEY bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
A Renton School District teacher was fired this summer after an investigation revealed a sexual contact with a 14-year-old student in 2006. According to district spokesman Randy Matheson, the incident was brought to the district’s attention in August by a female
former student who told the district about the incident at Dimmit Middle School nearly a decade ago. A letter from Interim Superintendent Art Jarvis was sent to parents this week informing them of the incident. After talking with the young woman, now in her early 20s, Matheson said the district launched an internal investigation which revealed enough evidence to terminate the teacher and forward the information to police. The teacher, who had been with the district about 10 years, formerly worked as language arts teacher at two middle schools and at Hazen High School.
“We found enough to have grounds to terminate,” Matheson said Tuesday. Matheson also said the district believes this was a one-time incident and not a pattern. “We have no reason to believe there were other students involved,” he said. Police last week informed the district they had completed their investigation and would be forwarding their results to the prosecutor for possible charging. Though the teacher has been identified by the district, the Renton Reporter is withholding his name until when and if charges are filed.
Matheson also said they are open to hearing from other students and even though the incident occurred 10 years ago, they reacted immediately after it was brought to their attention. In his letter, Jarvis reiterated the District’s commitment to keeping schools safe and said even though the allegations are a decade old, counselors would be provided to address student and staff concerns. “I’m deeply saddened by this breach of trust,” Jarvis wrote in his letter. “Not only was a child victimized, but educational professionals across the system and the state get tainted by such a crime.”
Renton Hill hit with rash of car prowls BY BRIAN BECKLEY bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
Spooktacular!
A little pirate takes a turn at the ring toss during the Olde Fashioned Halloween celebration downtown on Oct. 24. Right, a tiny shark is excited over candy he got during the city’s Truck or Treat event Oct. 23 at the Community Center. To see full slideshows from both events, visit www.rentonreporter.com. BRIAN BECKLEY, Renton Reporter
Police are investigating a sharp increase in car prowls in the Renton Hill neighborhood that has residents calling a community meeting to search for answers. According to police, the numbers are slightly up over last year, but there has been a large increase in reports there have been 12 car prowls in the historic neighborhood since Sept. 9, including nine since Sept. 25. “It’s ramping up pretty well,” said Renton Police spokesman Commander David Leibman. According to Leibman, there have only been 14 prowls in the neighborhood since June, so 12 in the last month is a major increase. “Lately it’s been kind of crazy,” agreed resident and Renton Hill Neighborhood Association President Bob Benedetti, adding that traditionally his neighborhood has been very quiet and safe. According to Leibman the locations of the crimes are spread pretty evenly over the Hill and none of the prowls are anything too unusual, but rather run-of-mill car prowls. Benedetti said that thieves are taking laptops, bags, even toys that were [ more PROWLS page 8 ]
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