3 assistant principals hit with criminal citations for alleged failure to report sexual assaults against teen girl in Washington

According to the Bellingham police, a 15-year-old girl reported to assistant principal Louzao in January 2021 that a 14-year-old boy at Squalicum High School sexually assaulted her in November and December of 2020. The victim was told a safety agreement would be put in place, but according to police, the boy violated it only four days later.

On Wednesday, Louzao, Hackney, and Dunham — all of whom knew about the sexual assaults, were issued criminal citations for failure to report, a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, since all three are mandatory reporters, which requires them by law to report any suspected abuse or neglect of a child to law enforcement or the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Two weeks after that violation, the girl reported the sexual assaults to the police. The following day, Hackney arranged a meeting between the alleged victim and the accused male student to discuss the reported sexual assault incidents, but at no time did any of the assistant principals report the sexual assaults to law enforcement or the state department of children and family services.

Shortly thereafter, police arrested the 14-year-old boy and he was booked into juvenile detention.

Louzao, a graduate of the far-left Evergreen State College, previously served as dean of students for Squalicum High School during the 2021-2022 school year and has been linked to Rise Up a Seattle-based anarchist collective and is listed as the author of anarchistic writings on several websites.

Hackney has deleted her social media accounts, but previously received the 2018 Distinguished PK-12 Educator of the Year award from Evergreen State College and has previously spoken out against suspending students with disciplinary problems.

The Herald reported that Dunham’s salary is $148,770 and Hackney’s salary is $151,003. According to the Bellingham Herald, Louzao's current salary is also $148,770.

According to an update from Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Baker, all the three school administrators are continuing to work in their normal capacities with the district’s support. “We do not believe the staff members pose a safety risk to students, and the allegations against them do not involve conduct endangering students, beyond an alleged failure to report student-to-student sexual contact.”

Smith added, “We also do not believe their presence at work will interfere with any investigation.”

Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy told the Herald, that the case was referred to the Whatcom prosecutor’s office, which determined probable cause existed to charge Louzao, Hackney and Dunham for failing to report the sexual assaults.