Former teacher suspected of sexual misconduct

Bail was set at $15,000 Thursday for a former Bellevue teacher who was arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student.

Deene S. Juncker, 47, a teacher at the Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart until he resigned in October, did not enter a plea during his bail hearing. His attorney, David Allen, argued that his client is not a danger to the community, has substantial ties to the area and is not a flight risk

Juncker, who was booked on suspicion of sexual misconduct with a minor, has not been charged with a crime. The King County Prosecutor's Office expects to make a decision as early as today on whether to file formal charges against Juncker.

A probable-cause statement filed as part of the bail hearing details Juncker's alleged relationship with the student.

Questions about his relationship with the student were raised by the mother of a 16-year-old girl in February. The mother and the head of the school met with Juncker then and warned him against sending text messages to the girl outside school hours, according to the probable-cause document.

After he continued contacting the student, Juncker again met with school officials in October and turned in his school computers. He then was given the choice of resigning or being fired.

On Oct. 22, the Bellevue Police Department was notified and began an investigation.

According to the probable-cause documents, Juncker and the girl had stayed together at a Bellevue hotel in September. The investigation uncovered chat messages and e-mails discussing the rendezvous, according to the documents.

The girl, who is identified only by her initials, told police that she and Juncker began seeing each other in the summer and began meeting in woods near a park close to her house in Newcastle, the documents state. By August, the contacts had led to sexual encounters there and later at the hotel, she told police.

A bail form filed with the court indicated Juncker now is working as a sales clerk in a comic-book shop.

Peyton Whitely: 206-464-2259

or pwhitely@seattletimes.com