Federal Way school district elementary teacher arrested for child sex abuse | Update

Published 10:44 am Thursday, August 13, 2015

King County detectives arrested a Federal Way Public Schools second-grade teacher on Tuesday for suspicion of sex crimes against boys.

Sunnycrest Elementary teacher Patrick Belser, age 44, was immediately placed on administrative leave when school district officials learned of the allegations — which school officials do not believe involve students.

Sunnycrest Elementary Principal Rudy Baca sent out a letter to parents on Thursday explaining the situation. The school is located in Kent.

“It’s important to know the King County detectives do not believe that students at Sunnycrest were victimized or involved,” said Federal Way Public Schools spokeswoman Ann Cook. “Further, law enforcement officials have stated these allegations are not related to his work while employed in the Federal Way school district.”

Investigators believe the sex crimes occurred years ago outside of the school district.

A King County Superior Court judge set Belser’s bail at $150,000 as the prosecutor reviews the case for a charging decision.

King County Sheriff’s Office probable cause documents reveal investigators spoke with three victims, one of whom is the teacher’s relative, on July 14-15.

Belser’s relative told police the sexual abuse started when he was 12 years old during a summer break in Vancouver, Washington.

He said the abuse would happen every summer, about five to six times, and the suspect would offer him money to perform the sex acts. Pornography was easily available, as well.

As the victim got older and more resistant, Belser would allegedly offer more money and video games. The abuse also got worse. The victim told police he and his friends were allowed to drink alcohol at Belser’s house at the age of 15-16, the documents continue.

Now an adult, the victim said the last sexual assault occurred when he was 17-years-old.

He told his mother about what happened in May and the next month the teacher and victim corresponded through email, in which the victim says he can never talk or see Belzer again.

“You were [my relative], you were supposed to be trusted and protecting but you weren’t. Instead you did things no child should ever have to endure and for years I thought it was just a phase or something that some people go through,” the victim wrote. “Well, I know now and I have for a while that what you did was wrong and vile and sick and twisted. You abused me, my trust, my age and you stole my innocence. I directly relate what you did to a lot of the problems in my life now.”

Belzer responded to the email by stating he is a different person now and explains what he thinks will happen if the information is made public.

“What is done is done. I can’t take anything back. The only way I can make it right is for us to start talking together about our feelings,” Belser wrote in the email. “I feel prosecution is nothing more than revenge since all it does is destroy and nothing good will come from it. Wow, I wish I could turn back time because I didn’t realize I was causing so much hurt.”

Detectives also interviewed two other male victims, who are not related to the suspect.

One victim said Belser constantly made sexual requests, tried to grab his genitalia multiple times and would offer money for sexual acts. The suspect would offer him alcohol and marijuana but he would always say “no.” Nevertheless, the victim woke up to the suspect allegedly performing sex acts on him or in compromising positions and he witnessed the suspect abusing his brother, according to court documents.

The third victim interviewed said Belser allegedly offered him back rubs and then inappropriately touched him and sexually abused him. He would also drink alcohol and noted there was pornography everywhere in the suspect’s apartment.

In the letter to parents, Baca explained the district will not be commenting any further on the case out of respect for the investigation, but will fully cooperate with authorities.

If parents notice behavior that makes them think their student might be struggling with anything related to this situation, Baca asks that they contact him directly. If students have any information of concern, he asks parents to contact Detective Marylisa Priebe-Olson with the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-263-2114.

“Whenever there is a crisis situation, we have staff at school who can offer support,” Cook said. “This is hard to hear and it’s difficult to understand.”

Belser was hired in 2006 after passing a background check that showed no criminal history.