Former Ferris High School assistant principal back in jail

Todd Bender, the former Ferris High School assistant principal accused of molesting a teenage boy, is back in the Spokane County Jail after he allegedly was spotted Wednesday driving past the teen’s house as the teen mowed the lawn. Bender, 45, resigned in November after pleading not guilty to two counts of child molestation. The former English teacher and track coach acknowledged having sexual contact with the boy on three occasions in 2011 but told investigators the victim initiated the interactions, according to court documents. In three separate incidents, the victim said, Bender gave him alcohol, then put his hand down the boy’s pants. The boy, who is now 18 or 19, also told investigators Bender had repeatedly called and texted him before he came forward with the allegations. Bender, who had worked at Ferris since 1995, spent four hours in jail Nov. 18 before posting a $50,000 bond. As a condition of his release, a judge ordered him not to contact or come near the victim. Bender appeared this morning in Spokane Municipal Court. His bond is set at $20,000.