Originally published Friday, July 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Principal accused of rape had been investigated before for improper conduct
A principal at a private Christian school charged with child rape had been investigated before for improper conduct toward female students.
ARLINGTON — A principal at a private Christian school charged with child rape had been investigated before for improper conduct toward female students.
Mark Evan Brown is accused of encouraging a 14-year-old girl to run away from home and providing her a room at Highland Christian School with a bed and a television. Police allege Brown had sexual contact with the girl.
The 37-year-old was charged Wednesday in Snohomish County Superior Court with third-degree child rape. He is out on bail.
Police say Brown and the girl exchanged more than 700 text messages and phone calls.
Steve Williams, a spokesman for the state Department of Social and Health Services, said school officials at Concrete High School in Skagit County contacted Child Protective Services in 2004 after allegations surfaced of Brown having sexual contact with several female students.
The Skagit County Sheriff's Office and county prosecutor's office did not immediately comment on allegations about Brown from Concrete High School officials on Friday.
Brown had been the wrestling coach at the high school and was released from his contract.
In 2005, he was hired at Highland Christian School in Arlington.
The Highland Christian School board released a statement Wednesday saying they "stand behind" Brown, but declined additional comments. The school has about 240 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Brown is on administrative leave.
Shirley Skidmore, spokeswoman for the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, said there is no record that Brown is a state-certified educator. Private school educators, she said, don't need to be certified.
Brown's ex-wife, Casey West, said she divorced Brown after she discovered text messages between him and a cheerleader from Concrete High School. West said she began dating Brown when she was 14 and he was 26. They married in 2002 when she was 20 with her family's disapproval.
In 2004, West, now 26 years old, filed for divorce. She said that she thought the text messages between Brown and the female student were inappropriate. Brown remarried in 2005.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Arson suspect has long history of setting fires
Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
Kirkland annex 'yes' could be slipping away
Kent man challenges Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' gun ban

Girls Soccer: Mercer Island vs. Glacier Peak
Mercer Island defeats Glacier Peak, 2-1, in a 3A state playoff quarterfinal on Saturday, Nov. 14.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Man says he will protest city's gun ban by carrying gun into community center
- OSU game thread
704 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
358 - Kent man challenges Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' gun ban
137 - NYC trial for 9/11 suspects poses risks
136 - Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
109 - Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue
90 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
81 - Belmont game thread
75 - A politically correct — and dangerous — delicacy about the Fort Hood shooting
68 - Huskies no match for Oregon State, fall 48-21
65
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- An 802.11n upgrade could make a big difference
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist | A politically correct — and dangerous — delicacy about the Fort Hood shooting





