February 3, 2010 in Idaho

North Idaho gym teacher accused of sex abuse

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Darin J. DeBolt
(Full-size photo)(All photos)

A North Idaho high school gym teacher and cheerleading coach is accused of sexually abusing a teenager, a school district official said.

Darin J. DeBolt, 26, a teacher at Lakeside High School in North Idaho, appeared in court today on one count of sexual battery of a minor child ages 16 or17 and one count of sexual intercourse with a minor child.

DeBolt was arrested Tuesday at the 130-student high school in Plummer, where the Spokane resident has worked for five years, said Judi Sharrett, superintendent of the Plummer-Worley School District.

“The district is fully cooperating with police,” Sharrett said.

DeBolt remains in Benewah County Jail on $50,000 bail.

DeBolt was on the cheer squad at Eastern Washington University and is a coach with All Star Cheer and Dance in Spokane Valley, according to the group’s Web site.

Six comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  PhiltheBibliophil on February 03 at 4:33 p.m.

  If this guy is NOT Guilty, at 26 he just walked into the Jaws of Hell. Guys life is totally destroyed. If found not guilty the media, newspapers and local TV will not even give it lip service that he was exonerated! On the other hand if he is guilty, well then he’ll have to pay the piper. Should have waited to approach the lady when she was 18. Battery? Throw the book at him!

• 

  straighttalk on February 03 at 6:39 p.m.

  And thanks to the internet this will be available to any who seek information about him.

  What is it with these teacher/student relationships? Of any section of our society, teachers, of all people, should know better.

• 

  Runeslayer81 on February 03 at 10:23 p.m.

  Ya people should know better but you dont know this guy.He is a great person i should know he was my teacher and the person who he did maybe get with just ruined his life as a father and husband.He should have known better but that girl should have known what would happen to him after people find out.Im saying this as his student he is a great guy and this chick is freakin reatarded for ruining the rest of his life like this! He is the type of person to learn from this like i said i should know he “was” my teacher.

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  suzieQ on February 03 at 11:17 p.m.

  to runeslayer81, did you think for a second what this might be doing to the life of this young girl and what her family is going through? IF this did happen…and even IF it was more her idea than his… it still doesnt make it her fault!!! she is a young teen girl still learning about life and herself. that is why there are people like your teacher put in charge of kids, to teach them and prepare them to go out in the world, not to take advantage of their trust, low self-esteem, and naivety. teachers are trusted by parents and students. this guy crossed the line because all he was thinking about was himself…not his wife, his kids, this girl, or his other students like yourself. he broke all your trust. he was the adult trained to deal with youth and trusted to handle any situation a student could throw at him. she is a child, he is the adult…end of story. and i bet if you asked his wife and kids they wouldnt be blaming the girl….it was after all ultimately his decision that got him in this mess. im just sorry that he let you down and so many others too.

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  gordonre on February 04 at 3:42 p.m.

  unlike mrs. obama i’ve always been proud of america.

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  nightshade429 on February 07 at 5:22 p.m.

  gordonre while I myself may not be so impressed with the current administration, bringing the presidents wife in to this has nothing to do with the article!!!!!!! OCD much?