Monroe High teacher arrested, accused of sexual misconduct with student

MONROE — Police arrested a Monroe High School teacher Tuesday after he was accused of having a sexual relationship with a student in 2017.

Early last month, the student reported the relationship with the teacher, a 53-year-old man from Seattle. The student was 17 at the time of the relationship in 2017. The school district placed the teacher on administrative leave.

Monroe detectives corroborated the former student’s testimony. Police did not elaborate on the substance of the allegations.

Just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, Monroe police booked the teacher into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, a felony. The teacher was scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Wednesday afternoon.

Investigators believe the teacher, who police did not publicly identify, engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct with other possible victims.

In an email, school district spokesperson Erin Zacharda said the district was aware of the arrest and “we are continuing to fully cooperate with the Monroe Police Department in their investigation.”

Anyone with additional information about the case or other potential victims can contact the Monroe Police Department at 360-794-6300. In February, the police department announced a Monroe High School teacher was under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct with a student.

In late 2021, prosecutors charged a Monroe High School psychologist, Lance Egli, with sending sexual texts to police officers posing as teenage girls. Last year, Egli was sentenced in King County Superior Court to three months in jail for communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.