Resource: Police and SD Statements

Police Department Statement

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at approximately 10 a.m., a 55-year-old man was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County Jail by Lake Stevens Police for two counts of assault in the fourth degree with sexual motivation, two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, and two counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes after a lengthy investigation by Lake Stevens Police detectives.

The suspect is a Lake Stevens School District staff member and a leader of a local youth group that meets on Friday nights. Detectives anticipate there may be additional victims who have not come forward yet. Anyone who believes that they may be a victim, or who has information about this investigation, is encouraged to contact the Lake Stevens Police Department at 425-622-9369.

No additional details regarding the investigation are being released at this time. This remains an active investigation.

School District Public Statements

Initial Response

Lake Stevens School District recently learned that one of its staff members was arrested. The employee, who is a teacher and coach at Lake Stevens High School, has been on paid administrative leave since mid-August 2022 while allegations of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct were investigated by local law enforcement and our district. 

We are fully cooperating with the police investigation and the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office throughout this process. Our focus remains on the education and support of our students. We have an incredibly strong community, and we will continue to work together to get through this challenging time. 

We encourage our students and employees to report any instance of inappropriate conduct. All reports will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Our number one priority is to provide a safe and secure learning environment for our students and staff, and we will always act in the interest of caution. Emergencies should be reported to 911. Non-emergency information can be shared with any staff member or on the anonymous SafeSchools Tip Line. 

Ken Collins Response

As you may know, a Lake Stevens High School teacher and coach was arrested yesterday. This teacher has been on paid administrative leave this school year while allegations of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct were investigated by local law enforcement and our district.

We have fully cooperated with the police investigation and the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office throughout this process, and will continue to do so. More information is included in the attached press release from the Lake Stevens Police Department.

I know that this significantly impacts our Viking Community, and the Lake Stevens Community as a whole. Please know that there are many aspects and details of this investigation that we legally cannot comment on. We are not attempting to hide anything or to minimize the situation. We are simply bound by confidentiality laws that disallow us from discussing details.

We are aware that this matter is being discussed on social media, and that it will likely garner significant media attention.

Our focus remains on the education and support of our students.

We encourage our students to report any instance of inappropriate conduct. All reports will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Our number one priority is to provide a safe and secure learning environment, and we will always act in the interest of caution.

While we are unable to provide further details, support is available to any student who needs it. We have an incredibly strong community, and we will continue to work together to get through this challenging time.

Notes

Explore relation between district SH policy and holistic culture/atmosphere.

Pay accrued on leave must be repaid if guilty of felony

On Mattingly

In January (2016), the district’s attorneys asked Mattingly to imagine the headlines and how it would look if his full work history was unearthed by The Herald. And yet, until recently, he kept his job teaching young people.

The evidence against Mattingly was not enough to justify firing him under state law and the union contract, district spokeswoman Jayme Taylor said. It has become “increasingly difficult to terminate teachers for misconduct,” she said in a prepared statement.