Bad Bad Teacher

(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)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 9:00 am and is filed under Administrators, Church Schools, Hall of Shame, ME-FV, Washington. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.