Warden High School teacher resigns
Allegations not substantiated
WARDEN - Packets containing information and photos claiming a sexual relationship between a Warden teacher and student are circulating the Columbia Basin.
A Spokane television station broadcast a story based on the information in the packet last week.
The Columbia Basin Herald received a packet and turned it over to the Moses Lake Police Department last week due to an explicit photo and the possibility the female in the photo was a minor. Paperwork accompanying the photo claimed it took place on Moses Lake, within the city.
Moses Lake Police reviewed the information and provided the photos and documents to the Grant County Sheriff's Office because it was outside of city limits, according to Moses Lake Police Capt. Dave Ruffin.
The Warden Police Department did not investigate either because none of the alleged incidents took place in Warden, Warden Police Department Chief Ken Krebs said.
The Grant County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation.
Information in the packets allege the photos are of former Warden High School math teacher Kelly Smith and a student. The identities of the male and female in the grainy photos were not determined, according to Grant County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Courtney Conklin.
He said the investigation was ended because it was determined nothing criminal took place.
The female alleged to be a minor was 18 years old when the photos were taken, he said. She graduated from Warden High School. The sheriff's office interviewed the 18-year-old female and she claimed nothing sexual took place with Smith while she was a minor, Conklin said.
The initial information packets accuse Smith of having a sexual relationship with the student before she turned 18, but Conklin said there is no evidence of anything illegal taking place between Smith and the girl before she became an adult.
Despite the lack of an alleged crime, Smith resigned from his position at the high school Aug. 30, Warden School District Superintendent Sandra Sheldon said.
The one-sentence resignation letter did not reveal reasons for Smith's decision.
He was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 27 while the school district investigated a complaint of misconduct, Sheldon said.
The school district turned the investigation over to Canfield and Associates law firm who informed the sheriff's office of the packet, Conklin said.
Sheldon said she could not reveal any information concerning the reported misconduct.
When contacted, Smith declined to comment on the alleged misconduct.
"You'll have to get in touch with my attorney for that," he said. "I'm sorry."
Smith provided his attorney's name but said he did not have any contact information for the attorney.
The Warden School District employed Smith for 13 years, Sheldon confirmed. His teaching career was spread out between the high school and Warden Middle School.