Seattle Coach Charged

The Juanita High School boys basketball coach has been charged with indecent exposure in an incident involving a player on the team.

Jim McDonald was suspended by the Lake Washington School District last month while charges against him were investigated.

According to the charges filed Wednesday by King County deputy prosecutor James Burke, the incident that led to the charge occurred Feb. 3, 1994, when McDonald and the alleged victim, then an 18-year-old senior on the Juanita varsity team, went on a recruiting visit to Pacific Lutheran University and to watch a game there.

Upon returning, the court papers said, the coach and the player ended up at a peep show in downtown Seattle. There, McDonald masturbated in front of the player, the court papers said.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, McDonald could face up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Sexual misconduct, including indecent exposure, violates the state code of conduct for teachers and is grounds for revocation of McDonald’s teaching certificate.

McDonald is in his fourth year as head boys basketball coach at Juanita. He also teaches social studies at the school.