(09/10/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Michele Taylor, 31, a physical education teacher at East Valley High School in Yakima, Washington has reportedly been charged on allegations of sexual contact with a 16-year-old male student in a KMart parking lot.

Reportedly, Taylor is charged with sexual misconduct and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

In addition to the alleged sexual contact with the 16-year-old student it is also alleged that Taylor communicated with a 15-year-old male student and raised the possibility of sending him a nude photo, then sent another suggestive photo of herself at a party.

An investigator’s report alleges that Taylor exchanged more than 400 text messages with the two boys between March and June.

Taylor came to the attention of authorities in June when a student alerted the school system to the alleged conduct and the sheriff’s office began an investigation of Taylor.

KAPP TV reports:

County Prosecutor Jim Hagarty says his office decided not to arrest Taylor because she has no criminal history. She’ll have to appear in court in mid-October.

Reportedly, Michele Taylor and her husband, who is also a physical education teacher in the district, are well known because they are the parents of triplets who were born prematurely and received community support.

Michele Taylor was placed on paid administrative leave when the allegations arose in June.

Taylor’s arraignment is scheduled for October 16th.

The photo of Michele Taylor shown on the left is from her page on the web site of the Centralia College Sports Hall of Fame, a fact brought to our attention by Danny, over at The Weekly Vice.

09/17/09 Not Guilty Plea To Apparently Reduced Charge

Michele Taylor has, by way of a written plea submitted by her attorney, pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree sexual misconduct and two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Last week, the deputy prosecutor handling the case indicated that he had charged Taylor with first-degree sexual misconduct, yet this week he indicated he didn’t know why the charges filed in Yakima County Superior Court were actually for second-degree sexual misconduct.

The former is a felony offense punishable by up to five years in prison while the latter is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison.

The Following Is the Webmaster’s OPINION:

Apparently neither the deputy prosecutor nor his boss has seen fit to explain the reduced charge and Taylor’s attorney is apparently not talking either, all of which gives rise to at least the appearance of double-standards in the handling of cases of men and women accused of similar crimes.

This is particularly the case since County Prosecutor Jim Hagarty says his office decided not to arrest Taylor because she has no criminal history. Earlier a male coach charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with a female student was arrested and jailed in spite of the man having no criminal record.

This case is shaping up as one which may well define the extent to which double-standards exist in the treatment of school employees accused of improper relationships with students.

10/06/09 – Case Update

A reader has brought to our attention a report by the Yakima Herald-Republic which indicates that an amended charge of first-degree sexual misconduct was filed against Michele Taylor who also faces two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

According to the referenced report, Prosecutor Hagarty said he will consider strengthening the process to make sure that proper charges are filed, and that he will review the standards on whether to arrest defendants who are teachers.

10/16/09 – Arraignment

Today, Michele Taylor appeared in court for arraignment on charges of sexual misconduct and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Taylor’s attorney pointed out to the judge that Taylor had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defense sought and received modification of the standard no-contact order prohibiting Taylor from being around children. Taylor is now permitted contact with her own children.

The judge also agreed to let Taylor remain free on her own recognizance.

10/23/09 – Case Update

Reportedly, East Valley School District school officials met with Michele Taylor this week for a “due process meeting” and the district is continuing its internal investigation of Taylor.

Once the district’s investigation is complete, school officials will decide what if any action to take in regard to Taylor’s employment with the district.

Meanwhile, Taylor continues on paid administrative leave.

11/03/09 – School District Moves To Fire Taylor

Reportedly, the East Valley School District sent a letter to Michele Taylor on Monday saying there is “probable cause” to terminate her employment with the district.

Taylor will have 10 days to decide if she wants to appeal the decision.

If she does appeal, the district will conduct a hearing over the matter.

11/17/09 – Michele Taylor Appeals Termination

Michele Taylor is reportedly appealing termination from her job.

According to the Yakima Herald:

The next step is for both sides to select and agree upon a hearing officer, who will weigh the evidence and determine whether there is indeed probable cause for Taylor’s termination.

(07/25/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Mark Evan Brown, 37, principal at Highland Christian School in Arlington, Washington has been arrested and charged with third-degree child rape.

It is alleged that Brown helped a 14-year-old female student run away from home and that he converted a seldom-used third floor room at the school into a home for the girl, supplying her with a hide-a-bed and a television. It was there that Brown allegedly gave her rum and sexually molested her.

Prosecutors said Brown and the alleged victim exchanged hundreds of text messages and phone calls and that in some of those communications Brown encouraged the girl to run away from home.

KING TV reports that police were able to track the girl down using a prepaid “Go-Phone”.

Reportedly Brown told KOMO News:

the girl broke into the school with the help of a senior boy. He also claimed the only time he ever saw the girl at the school was in the presence of another staff member.

Also from the KOMO report:

Brown said he had suspended the student on two different occasions and had contacted Child Protective Services regarding her troubled relationship with her family. But he said he never spent time with her alone and, more importantly, never touched her.

Prosecutors allege that Brown violated a protection order in which he was not allowed to have any contact with the girl. It is alleged that they have spoken three times on the phone since the order was issued.

Brown was arraigned on Wednesday and his bail was set at $100,000.

The Seattle Times reports that Brown was released on bond.

Reportedly the Highland Christian School board went to court to show their support for Brown and in public statements have said they “stand behind him” and that Brown has been placed on administrative leave.

Brown’s ex-wife Casey says Brown has victimized more children, and she was one of them as she was involved in a sexual relationship with Brown when she was 14 and he was 26. Eventually they married and she ultimately divorced Brown after she allegedly discovered inappropriate text messages between him and a cheerleader from Concrete High School, where he worked at the time.

Brown’s ex-wife has been quoted by KING TV as saying of Brown:

I knew that the kind of man I was living with was pretty much, in my words, a pedophile

Webmaster’s note: This case came to our attention by way of a tip to alerts@badbadteacher.com from one of our readers. As always, we are very thankful for such tips.

07/26/08 – School Says It Is Terminating Brown’s Employment

In a latter addressed to “Dear of Highland Christian School” the school has announced it has begun the process of terminating Mark Brown’s employment with the school. The school also indicates that a counselor will be provided for students and parents to speak with. A copy of the letter is currently available on the school’s web site, a link to which is provided below.

Webmaster’s note: Once again we are indebted to one of our readers that pointed out this information to us. Thanks as always…

09/13/09 – Guilty Plea To Kidnapping 14-year-old Girl

In a plea deal with prosecutors, Mark Evan Brown has pleaded guilty to a second-degree kidnapping count in a case involving a 14-year-old girl.

In exchange for the plea on the kidnapping charge, prosecutors dropped a third-degree child rape charge.

Reportedly, Brown faces up to a year in jail when sentenced in November.

It is also reported that Brown will be required to register as a convicted kidnapper with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years.

Reportedly, prosecutors also plan to ask that Brown be evaluated for sexual deviancy.

11/17/09 – Sentencing

On Monday, Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry sentenced Mark Brown to one year in jail, which the judge allowed to be served on work-release.

Brown must register as a kidnapper for 15 years and was ordered not to have any contact with minors unless he receives approval from his community corrections officer.

References:

Year in jail for fired principal who kidnapped teen (11/17/09)

Ex-school principal pleads guilty to kidnapping student (09/12/09)

Letter From Highland Christian School Board (07/25/08)

Principal accused of rape had been investigated before for improper conduct (07/25/08)

Principal charged with rape had been investigated (07/25/08)

New accusations against principal charged with rape (07/24/08)

Principal charged with rape of student: I never touched her (07/24/08)

Principal charged with raping teen (07/23/08)

Principal charged with raping student at school (07/23/08)

Principal Charged With Having Sex With 14-Year-Old (07/23/08)

(12/24/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Jesus Vega Barcenas, 26, a substitute teacher at Adams Elementary School in Wapato, Washington has been arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 12 year old student.

Reportedly Barcenas taught fifth-grade at the school for several years and this year is working as a substitute at the same school.

Police allege that the suspect met the victim at Adams Elementary when she was 11-years-old, had sex with her at least five times over the course of a year including once in his classroom, began dating her mother and ultimately moved into their home. He came to the attention of authorities when the girl informed her mother of the alleged sexual abuse and the mother called police.

12/26/07 – Barcenas Officially Charged

Jesus Barcenas has been charged in Yakima County Superior Court on two counts of first-degree child rape and three counts of second-degree child rape.

Court documents indicate that the alleged victim told police that Barcenas “brainwashed” her into engaging in sex acts with him in his classroom and at her home for more than a year. Reportedly she also told police that he continued having sex with her after he began dating her mother and moved into their home this summer.

Reportedly the girl has told investigators that Barcenas once had sex with her in her mother’s bedroom.

Bail for Jesus Barcenas was set at $200,000 with trial reportedly set for February 11th.

10/28/09 – Trial Underway

Jurors are hearing opening arguments this morning in the trial of Jesus Barcenas accused of having sex with a pre-teen student.

Barcenas facing two counts of first-degree child rape and three counts of second-degree child rape.

The trial scheduled to last through next week.

11/05/09 – Split Verdict

A jury has found Jesus Vega Barcenas guilty on two counts of second-degree rape of a girl, now 14, whom he first met in a third-grade after-school program.

The jury found him not guilty of two counts of first-degree child molestation and one count of second-degree rape.

A sentencing date for Vega Barcenas has not been set.

References:

Former Wapato teacher found guilty on lesser charges of child rape (11/05/09)

Trial begins for ex-teacher accused of having sex with fifth-grader (10/28/09)

Wapato Elementary Teacher Charged with Child Rape (12/26/07)

Wapato Teacher Charged With Child Rape & Molestation (12/24/07)

12-year-old says teacher ‘brainwashed’ her into sex (12/24/07)

Wapato teacher arrested for having sex with student (12/22/07)

Substitute teacher in Wapato faces sex charges (12/22/07)

Yakima Police arrest substitute teacher suspected of child rape (12/22/07)