Teacher Charged With Two Counts Of Child Rape

A well-regarded Shorewood Elementary School teacher accused of having sex with a former student has been charged with two counts of second-degree child rape.

Prosecutors say Mary K. LeTourneau, 35, had sex several times with the 13-year-old boy between June 1, 1996, and Feb. 21.

Charges were filed Tuesday in King County Superior Court. LeTourneau is scheduled to be arraigned March 12. If convicted on both counts, she faces 5-1/2 to 7-1/2 years in prison.

LeTourneau, who has worked for the Highline School District for eight years, taught the boy in the second and sixth grades.

A person who claimed to be an acquaintance of the teacher went to the district last week and made the allegations, said district spokesman Nick Latham.

“All of us are trying to deal with it as best we can,” said Sue Farley, president of Shorewood Elementary’s Parent Teacher Association. “It’s so out of character. The kids love this woman. It’s hard to believe.”

According to charging papers, the boy told police and King County prosecutors that the first time he had sex with LeTourneau was at the teacher’s Normandy Park home.

He said after that they had sex about six times, sometimes at the teacher’s house and sometimes in her car.

LeTourneau also warned the boy against telling anyone about their relationship because they would not be able to see each other again and that she could be fired, charging papers said.

While LeTourneau wouldn’t confirm the details of her relationship with the boy when questioned by a detective, “she admitted knowing the law and knowing that she had been wrong in the relationship,” the papers said.

“She has apparently told various family members that she has had intercourse with (the student), but described him as being older than his true age,” charging papers said.

The teacher is married and has four children. She is expecting a fifth child.

LeTourneau has been suspended with pay since Feb. 29.

She told The Seattle Times she had been instructed by her attorney not to comment.