Principal accused of rape had been investigated before for improper conduct

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.