Former Othello teacher charged with child molestation

RITZVILLE - Former Othello teacher Lisa Davis, 48, was charged with child molestation in Adams County Superior Court for an alleged relationship with a 10-year-old male student.

Davis reportedly admitted to her family she participated in inappropriate behavior with a student - a now 11-year-old boy, who attended Scootney Elementary School. She told her family she and the victim kissed on several occasions, and inappropriate touching took place two or three times, according to court records.

The victim, age 10 at the time of the incidents, said the incidents happened in Davis' classroom and at a house that belonged to Davis' friend, according to a report from the Othello Police Department.

Davis arranged to have access to the home by getting a key from the owner who was out of town on May 24 and 25.

According to court records, the Othello School District's human resources director reported allegations of a "suspicious and unprofessional" relationship between Davis and the victim on May 30.

The relationship started in late 2012 and continued into 2013. It did not end until Davis' husband told the victim's father to stop allowing the boy to call Davis.

Davis allegedly spent a lot of time together with the boy, speaking frequently on the phone. Davis also took the boy out of town to watch movies, and would provide gifts to him and his family, according to an Othello police report. The victim spent time after school helping Davis on projects.

After completing a month-long investigation, Othello police recommended prosecutors charge Davis with two counts of first-degree child molestation.

Davis resigned from her position with the school district in June. She was named Teacher of the Month by KHQ TV and Eastern Washington University in March 2012, and began teaching with the Othello School District in 1997.

Davis was summoned to appear in court July 29.

She still holds an active teaching license in Washington state, according to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The state agency received information about the case from the Othello School District Tuesday, and still needs to review the information before deciding if it will conduct an investigation, according to Nathan Olson, of OSPI.