Bainbridge High teacher's aide accused of abusing developmentally disabled girl

A 62-year-old Bainbridge High School teacher's aide is being held in the Kitsap County Jail on $500,000 bail, accused of sexually touching a developmentally disabled 17-year-old girl at a community pool, according to Bainbridge Island police.

On Thursday afternoon, a witness told police the man and girl were seen touching each other's genitals in a hot tub and swimming pool at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center, according to a police report. Video surveillance footage from the center confirmed the account, the report says.

The following day, the man — who is also a caregiver to mentally-challenged females in his home — refused to go to the Bainbridge Island police station to be interviewed and later refused to come to the door when officers arrived at his home, the report says. At 7:50 p.m., he tried leaving his house "in an attempt to elude officers" and was arrested on suspicion of indecent liberties, according to the report.

The man declined to be interviewed by officers and was booked into jail. He is expected to make his first court appearance this afternoon, jail records show.

Pam Keyes, a Bainbridge Island School District spokeswoman, said both the girl and witness are mentally challenged students at the high school. "The district took immediate action" and notified the two students' parents about the incident, she said.

The 62-year-old has been a para-educator, or teacher's aide, in special education classes at the high school for approximately six years, she said.

On Thursday, school officials sent the man a letter — though Keyes said she did not know the letter's content — and he did not show up for work on Friday, Keyes said.

The Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center, which is run by the local parks district, is on the same property as the high school, an elementary school and school district offices, she said.