Washington state high school band instructor arrested for felony sexual misconduct with minor

Police in Bothell, Washington, on Thursday arrested 44-year-old Philip Dean, a longtime educator and band instructor at Bothell High School, on two felony charges stemming from alleged incidents involving a student.

Dean faces one count of sexual misconduct with a minor in the first degree and one count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes. According to investigators, the crimes took place during the 2015 and 2016 school years, when the victim was a student at Bothell High School. According to police, the victim is fully cooperating with authorities in what police describe as an active and ongoing investigation.

Dean has been a faculty member at Bothell High School for over 15 years. The Northshore School District is fully cooperating with the police investigation. Officials from both the district and law enforcement stated that they are committed to providing transparency and support to affected students, families, and community members during this time.

While current evidence points to a single known victim, Bothell Police have expressed concern that additional victims may exist and are encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward. "If you have any information that could assist our detectives, we urge you to reach out," said a department spokesperson. "This is an important matter of student safety and trust."

This case adds to a growing list of recent reports involving sexual misconduct by school personnel across Washington State and the country. Earlier this week, a middle school wrestling coach in Auburn, Washington, was charged with multiple felony offenses after allegedly engaging in sexually explicit communications with a 14-year-old student, including persuading her to send him nude images and a sexually explicit video of herself.

Critics point to systemic failures in safeguarding Washington students, with some alleging that school administrators and lawmakers are not doing enough to protect children from sexual predators in schools.

Earlier this month, Democrats in the Washington state Legislature voted to gut many of the protections in the Parents’ Bill of Rights, Initiative 2081, which gave parents more control over their children’s education and access to school records, including notification of incidents involving their children's physical and mental health.