Honk News (Olympia, WA) – On Friday, a former Olympia School District teacher who was charged with child molestation accepted a plea bargain, avoiding a jail term.
In Thurston County Superior Court, 35-year-old Jonathan J. Moore entered a guilty plea to third-degree assault.
Moore was previously accused by prosecutors of second-degree sexual misconduct with a juvenile, third-degree child molestation, and communication with a kid for immoral purposes. According to court documents, the former pupil, who is currently 19 years old, made the accusations that led to those charges.
The student informed the police While he was attending Jefferson Middle School, Moore groomed him, and throughout his time at Capital High School, he abused him.
In order to prevent a potentially worse consequence, Moore entered an Alford plea, which maintains his innocence but enters a guilty plea to an altered charge.
“I do not believe that I am guilty of the offense I am pleading to because it is not factually consistent to the original charges alleged,” Moore explained in a written statement to the court. “However, after consulting with my lawyer, I wish to plead guilty now to take advantage of the prosecutor’s recommendation.”
He expresses his belief that there is a significant chance he would have faced a conviction had the case proceeded to trial with the initial charges. The agreement suggests that the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office advised granting Moore a first-time offender waiver along with credit for time already served, allowing him to avoid prison time.
Furthermore, the office recommended that Moore should be prohibited from having any contact with the victim for a period of five years, in addition to undergoing a psychosexual evaluation and adhering to any suggested treatment plans.
The agreement stipulated that Moore must refrain from any interaction with minors unless permitted by a treatment provider. He is required to submit a DNA sample and settle obligatory fines and fees. On Friday, Judge Mary Sue Wilson adhered to the prosecutor’s suggestion while issuing a sentence.
Moore received a formal sentence of one day in total confinement, but he was credited with one day for time already served in the county jail. According to court records, Wilson has imposed a sentence of 12 months of community custody on Moore. Moore stands without any prior criminal convictions. In February 2023, Moore was taken into custody by Olympia police, following a six-month investigation into the allegations made by the student.
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Moore was released on bail set at $25,000, which he secured the following day after his arrest.
The student who was victimized reported to the authorities that he encountered Moore at Jefferson Middle School, where Moore was instructing a digital media course. Moore subsequently accompanied the student to Capital High School. The student reported that Moore reached out to him via Skype, email, and various chat applications. He mentioned that they frequently hung out together after school too.
The individual informed authorities that the nature of the relationship turned intimate when the student entered high school. He stated that Moore insisted he refer to him as his boyfriend and express his love for him. The student recounted that Moore would reach out to him nightly around 11:30 p.m., and their conversations would often extend until approximately 1 a.m.
At this point, the student revealed that he concealed his conversations from his parents and began to struggle academically. He mentioned that Moore started completing his assignments, leading to his lack of understanding in algebra and geometry.
The discussion about intimacy first arose between them during the student’s middle school years. He reported that the non-consensual sexual acts started when he was around 16 or 17 years old.
These events took place after school hours, once the building was empty. A student reported that Moore made threats to harm himself unless he distanced himself from his friends or engaged in sexual activity with Moore. Legal documents reveal that their physical interactions ceased in December 2021, yet their communication persisted into 2022.