Wahluke High School teacher charged with sexual misconduct, resigns

EPHRATA — A Wahluke High School instructor has allegedly admitted to having sexual encounters with a 17-year-old student and has been charged with sexual misconduct.

Grant County prosecutors charged Michael Smith, 45, of Wenatchee, with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. Smith resigned his position, Superintendent Aaron Chavez said Thursday.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office was made aware on May 28 of a possible sexual assault involving Smith, who was an instructor and director of the Career Technical Education program at Wahluke High School, and a 17-year-old male student at WHS.

Deputies contacted the victim, who explained that he made arrangements to meet and have sexual intercourse with an older man, with the man turning out to be Smith. The boy reported using Grindr, a social networking platform for homosexual and bi-sexual men on his phone.

The application locates other people who have similar interests to the user, with the boy stating he used the site’s messaging system to make arrangements to meet an older man, alleged to be Smith. Smith allegedly sent the boy sexually suggestive messages and sent him a nude photo.

The victim allegedly made plans to meet Smith on May 25 at his aunt’s Mattawa residence during his lunch hour, with the boy agreeing to put a blindfold on and have sex with Smith. One of the victim’s friends reportedly showed up at the location during the sexual act and Smith ran away.

The boy’s friend allegedly caught a glimpse of the man and reported he looked like Smith. The next day the boy confronted Smith, with Smith allegedly admitting he was the man he had met the previous day.

Smith was interviewed by investigators on May 31 and allegedly confessed to having sex with the male student and described using Grindr on his cell phone. He said he wanted to remain anonymous, which is why he had the boy wear a blindfold.

A detective with the sheriff’s office reported that Smith’s account of what happened was “very similar” to the account the boy gave.

A statement posted on Wahluke School District’s website reads, “Safety of our students is our top priority at Wahluke. The School District is aware of the allegations and is cooperating with the police investigation. This employee has resigned. We can not comment any further.”