Former Kamiak Coach Julian Willis Felony Sex Crimes Trial Continued Again
The former substitute teacher was set to face jury trial Friday. Prosecutors say he serially assaulted a minor Kamiak student. The matter has been continued four times already.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT — Disgraced former Kamiak assitant football coach and substitute teacher Julian Willis’ jury trial was set to begin Friday in Everett. Those who showed up eager to watch the alleged serial predator face justice instead were told that the case was “continued for unspecified reasons”.
The former teacher and paraeducator faces three charges of felony sex crimes involving a minor student.
Julian Willis poses a significant threat to the public, particularly against those in vulnerable environments, given the historical extent of his predatory behavior and his blatant disregard for the rule of law.
- Detective Eric Ofori, Mukilteo Police Department
This is the fourth delay of the Willis trial, and as a result, a man whom detectivesx say poses a significant flight risk and risk to the public at large…a man accused of multiple sex crimes against a minor student…a man who previously fled rape investigations in three different western states…a man who allegedly raped a near-catatonic patient in an inpatient recovery1… facility remains free on bond.
“What I Want to Do Would Get Us Both in Trouble” - Willis to Minor Student
J425 broke the story in the Spring of 2023. Our follow-up story detailing his alleged crimes supported by inappropriate TikTok posts Willis filmed inside district portables remains our most-read and shared story. You can read it here, paywall removed courtesy of J425 paid subscribers.
Willis was fired by the school district hours after our initial story broke. In the months that followed, we reported that Willis had fled previously fled rape charges in three states and faced credible, documented assault allegation from at least five additional victims.
With the Snohomish County Prosecutor facing a backlog of some 6,000 cases, Willis remained free awaiting trial.
During that time, the married father of two accosted a minor Lake Stevens High School student on Fathers’ Day morning in the Lake Stevens Haggen grocery store. The alleged predator made contact with the teen girl five time in the grocery store.
The girl — who recognized Willis from J425’s reporting — fled in her car only to have Willis follow her to a second location. The matter was reported to Lake Stevens police and days later a multi-agency raid picked up Willis at his Lake Stevens-area residence. He was booked in early July 2023 but released 72 hours later when charges went unfiled.
The Snohomish County Prosecutor filed charges in October of 2023, building a case around three of the alleged sex acts involving a Kamiak student. At least two of the charges are backed up by DNA evidence pulled from the carpet of a Kamiak portable, located after the victim detailed where and when the crimes occurred. Detectives yellow-taped off the Kamiak classroom and cut out the carpets. The Washington State Crime lab linked Willis to the sample. Willis is charged with three felony counts of sexual misconduct involving a minor. Each count comes with a maximum of five years in prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registry.
Willis targeted his victim while serving as a Kamiak football coach. The victim was a volunteer manager for the football program, at that time helmed by former coach and Dean of Students Bryant Thomas. Other members of the coaching staff included
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