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Sex Crimes Trial of Former Kamiak Coach Cancelled for Sixth Straight Time
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Sex Crimes Trial of Former Kamiak Coach Cancelled for Sixth Straight Time

After skipping out on rape charges in 3 states, Julian Willis remains free, 2 years after alleged sex crimes against minor student. Now, with no trial in sight, Willis is spotted near LS schools.

Kevin Thomas Hulten's avatar
Kevin Thomas Hulten
Feb 21, 2025
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The Journal 425
Sex Crimes Trial of Former Kamiak Coach Cancelled for Sixth Straight Time
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Ed. Note: Read the initial award-winning J425 reporting that broke the Willis matter…watch the alleged sex offender’s steamy classroom TikToks filmed on the days of his alleged crimes. To make sure you have full access to the above stories and all the evidence, files and info contained in this and other J425 reports, consider subscribing for about eight bucks per month — in doing so, you’ll support our ongoing, award-winning investigations of Predators in Public Schools. Thanks, KTH.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT – He faces fifteen years in prison and lifetime sex offender registry for sex crimes against a minor student.

Police say he fled rape charges in three states and might’ve raped a convalescent patient.

After his arrest went public, he pursued a minor Lake Stevens girl through a store and followed her in his car.

After J425’s initial reporting, multiple local women and girls emerged with credible reports of previous assaults.

And yet two years later, disgraced former Kamiak football coach and substitute teacher Julian Willis remains free, on no bond, with limited conditions of release…and his pending felony trial just got cancelled at the last minute for the sixth consecutive time.

In short, an alleged sex offender whom prosecutors and courts say remains a danger to commit violent crime and intimidate witnesses… will remain free for the foreseeable future.

As if the above isn’t enough, consider the following: the delay in justice is one problem…but what about the fact that… as he walks around free, Willis faces near-certain guilt …established via DNA evidence…followed by a lengthy prison bid…which he’ll serve with a child sex offender jacket…in a prison system known for harsh treatment of sex offenders. Doesn’t this make an already-dangerous man more dangerous ?


Willis Faces Long Prison Bid + Lifetime Sex Offender Registry

Charges + conditions

Willis, who has remained free pending trial for all but two days since his initial arrest, is facing charges that carry up to 180 months in prison, up to $30,000 and mandatory lifetime sex offender registry.

The alleged sex offender appears firmly tied to a series of minor-involved sex crimes via DNA-matched genetic material that police found on classroom carpets… directly beneath desks where the underage victim told police she’d survived Willis’ multiple midday sex crimes, on days he was assigned to substitute. 

Cops then rolled up the carpets and sent ‘em off to the crime lab, where the material was linked to Kamiak substitute teacher and football coach Julian Willis, apparently further confirming the girl’s allegations and substantiating the three felony sex crimes Willis is currently charged with.

On top of that, Willis isn’t just a Kamiak/Mukilteo problem…he’s been doing his thing around Lake Stevens for some time too.

After his initial arrest and the ensuing publicity, Willis wasn’t afraid to stalk an underage Lake Stevens student around a grocery store, even following her in his car to another location. She recognized him from J425 reporting and got away.

As if that’s not enough, investigators say Willis previously fled rape charges in three different states — and also faces allegations of raping a convalescent patient, among other crimes.  

Prosecutors say Julian Willis is a threat to the public and a flight risk who fled rape allegations in three states - and yet he's free on bond in Lake Stevens

Prosecutors say Julian Willis is a threat to the public and a flight risk who fled rape allegations in three states - and yet he's free on bond in Lake Stevens

J425 and Kevin Thomas Hulten
·
July 4, 2023
Read full story

On top of all that, even with a court order barring him from schools, Willis has been seen alone at multiple Lake Stevens schools in recent months.

Despite all of the above, Willis will likely remain free on the two year anniversary of his initial arrest, as a jury trial scheduled for tomorrow was recently cancelled. 

This is the sixth consecutive time that Willis has escaped an imminent jury trial via a last minute continuance that allows him to remain free pending trial. 

No reason was given for the latest trial cancellation. A new trial date is not yet posted. 

Kamiak Coach: “What I Want to Do... Would Get Us Both in A Lot of Trouble”

Kamiak Coach: “What I Want to Do... Would Get Us Both in A Lot of Trouble”

J425 and Kevin Thomas Hulten
·
May 24, 2023
Read full story

The last three trial cancellations saw the defense and prosecutor asking the court for a delay in order to finalize a supposed plea deal – a deal that attorneys told the court was all but completed in October of 2024. Five months and two continuances later, and there’s no plea or trial information entered in the record.

And now, with a trial date pushed out at least another two months, Julian Willis is likely to remain free through at least late April which means he’ll still be free two years after his initial arrest. 

All this despite the fact that prosecutors and the court are in agreement that Willis presents a substantial danger to the community and is a threat to commit violent crime.

The court checked the box to the left, affirming that they find Willis a substantial danger of violent crime while released.

Our work in exposing those who prey on students isn’t easy or without risk. If you support our efforts to identify adults who harm children – and to confront the administrative forces pushing back against transparency and justice in these cases, please consider subscribing. You can join the cause for just over eight bucks per month. Thanks - KTH


Willis Spotted Recently Around Lake Stevens schools

Julian Willis, alone, at Hillcrest Elementary School in December of 2024. J425 Photo.

The latest delays in justice occur after Willis appeared to violate conditions of his release during the Fall of 2024, appearing by himself on or near Lake Stevens School District campuses several times.  

Concerned parents contacted J425 (with photos) on several occasions, showing what seemed to show Willis alone multiple times adjacent to a Lake Stevens elementary – likely picking up his kids – but nonetheless an apparent violation of conditions of release that bar Willis from school campuses unless supervised by his wife or mother-in-law. 

Hillcrest administrators attempting to obfuscate J425 efforts to photograph alleged sex offender, even after credentialed, working media explained the situation and our intent. Note that at time of photo, photographer is standing in middle of 4th Street at time of this photo. This was not by choice, we’d set up on sidewalk until interfered with. The man is pushing forward into the street, telling J425 to stop photography and continuing to get in frame to prevent photos of Willis. Woman back right is calling police. Police informed them upon arrival that J425’s work was legal and that sidewalk and street are public property. Later, we met a security expert at Hillcrest who was much better in application of first amendment law and concern re: sex offender proximity to kids. We gave his card to concerned partents who’d contacted us re: Willis at schools.

J425 responded to parent messages stating that Willis was on or near campus several times in December. As we attempted to document the situation, setting up on a public sidewalk and establishing a camera angle aligned away from school property, towards traffic on 4th Street, school administrators stepped in, attempting to block our photography which could establish a violent alleged sex offender was violating conditions put in place to protect children.

Despite repeated attempts to explain the situation to the administrators, they continued to

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