Sex charge names East Valley teacher

YAKIMA, Wash. -- An East Valley teacher faces criminal charges over allegations that she had sex with a 16-year-old male student in the Kmart parking lot and sent a suggestive photo to another boy.

Michele Taylor, 31, of Yakima is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 16 in Yakima County Superior Court on one count of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Sexual contact with students 16 or older is considered misconduct, rather than rape, under state law.

Taylor, a physical education teacher at East Valley High School who has worked for the school district since 2004, was placed on administrative leave June 9 when the district learned of the allegations and informed the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.

According to a detective's report filed in support of the charges, Taylor exchanged more than 400 text messages with the two male students -- ages 15 and 16 -- between March and June.

East Valley superintendent John Schieche declined to comment on the case Thursday. He referred calls to Seattle attorney Michael Patterson, who was retained to conduct a separate, internal investigation for the school district.

"What we're looking at is whether there has been professional misconduct and whether there are grounds for discipline or termination," Patterson said.

"We're looking at determining the credibility of these allegations, and in fact, if they are credible, in all probability that will lead to her termination."

Patterson said the district's investigation has been delayed because he has not yet met with Taylor.

"One of the things we've been hampered by is we've been unable to speak with Michele Taylor," he said. "I'm sure her criminal attorney has -- wisely -- advised her she should not be speaking to anybody."

He said Taylor had received routine training throughout her career for all teachers about avoiding inappropriate contact with students.

According to the initial June 9 report to sheriff's deputies, the 16-year-old boy said he had multiple text-message exchanges with Taylor but received only one phone call from her. Phone records show that call was at about 10 p.m. on May 9, a Saturday. She arranged to meet him at the Kmart parking lot off State Route 24, where the boy said they had sex in the back of her truck.

When interviewed by authorities, the 16-year-old also said there were two previous occasions when they kissed in Taylor's office.

The 15-year-old indicated he had exchanged text messages with the teacher, and that she told him she had already had sex with another student at the high school.

In the messages, she said she found the boys attractive. In one comment, she told the younger boy he would be "her type" if she were in high school, according to the sheriff's report.

The 15-year-old also indicated that Taylor had invited him to go to her house several times when she was home alone. He told investigators she had also invited him to the movies.

According to the report, Taylor told the student how she felt she missed out on a lot when she was younger because she met her husband at a young age.

The younger boy said she raised the possibility of sending him a nude photo, then sent him another suggestive photo of herself at a party, one showing another female licking her chest.

Though Taylor was officially charged Wednesday, Yakima County Prosecutor Jim Hagarty told KAPP-TV that she was not arrested because she has no criminal history.

One of the teacher's alleged victims remains at East Valley High School while the other has transferred out of the district.

Deputy Prosecutor Sam Chen said no other students are named or involved in the case.

On campus at East Valley High, things have been quiet, according to one student. Many were already aware of the allegations against Taylor, who did not return when classes resumed Tuesday.

"It's like we're just kind of avoiding it," said Tayler Moench, a senior and the school's ASB secretary. "No teacher has brought anything up at all about it. It's just a really big shock, I guess. It's kind of hard to believe."

Taylor's husband, Kevin, is also a physical education teacher and works at East Valley Intermediate School.

The community has, in the past, rallied around the Taylors, both East Valley High School graduates. A baked potato feed helped raise $7,000 to help the couple financially following the birth of their triplets in February 2004.

"We used to talk about it last year when the rumors first started," Moench said. "It's just like a very big shock with the community. (The Taylors are) very close with the community."

The Taylors attend Sun Valley Church, according to Senior Pastor John Schubert. The church meets in the East Valley High School auditorium.

Schubert said Kevin Taylor led a small group Bible study last year, but that he is no longer serving in that capacity.

A message left at Taylor's house Thursday was not immediately returned.

* Yakima Herald-Republic assistant city editor Scott Mayes contributed to this report.

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.

*Adriana Janovich can be reached at 509-577-7653 or ajanovich@yakimaherald.com.