Jury acquits Bainbridge paraeducator

PORT ORCHARD — A Kitsap County jury Wednesday acquitted Bainbridge Island resident and high-school paraeducator Stephen C. Buitenveld of felony indecent liberties following a 1 ½ weeklong trial.

Buitenveld was accused by prosecutors of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old developmentally disabled girl at the Bainbridge Aquatic Center on June 11. The 63-year-old was adamant at trial that the incident never took place and took the stand in his own defense.

"We're all ecstatic," said Buitenveld, surrounded near the steps of the courthouse by his family after the verdict was read.

Buitenveld said he and his family were confident of the outcome and thanked his attorney, Peter Camiel.

"We're thrilled," Camiel added. "We're very grateful to the jury. Steve and his family can go home and have a good Christmas."

John Thompson, a Port Orchard man who served on the jury, said jurors were not convinced by what he called an "overall lack of hard-core evidence."

"I think we felt there were a lot of gray areas," he said.

The prosecution's case was based on testimony from a 15-year-old boy who said he saw Buitenveld touch the girl. Buitenveld's attorney argued that the boy resented the educator, who had disciplined him several times.

Deputy prosecutor Coreen Schnepf said she felt the jury had done its duty.

"The jury made its decision, and we accept that," Schnepf said.

Bainbridge Island Police Lt. Sue Shultz said investigators were surprised by the verdict.

"This was a strong case, and we had a very credible witness," she said.

Buitenveld expressed his appreciation to the Bainbridge Island community, which he said has been supportive of him throughout the case.

The 63-year-old said he plans to "regroup" in 2010 and consider his next career. He's currently on an unpaid leave from the Bainbridge Island School District.

He said his next job will be "something different" from working as a paraeducator.

"We're going to have a nice holiday, and a much better 2010," he said.