Teacher Accused of Immorality with Girl

(Tenino, Washington) A 38-year-old teacher at Tenino High School, Dawn Marie Welter, has been accused of engaging in an illicit relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Welter, a divorced mother of three, faces three counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes. According to Lewis County Prosecutor Mike Golden, Welter has the weekend to surrender herself to the police.

The investigation started in Thurston County but moved to Lewis County where Welter and the student both lived and where the crimes allegedly happened.

In early March, the Tenino Police Department called the Thurston County Sheriff's Department to help investigate allegations that Welter had "inappropriate contact" with the student. Their investigation unearthed MySpace.com messages, emails and phone calls that indicated Welter and the female student have been engaged in an alleged relationship since January.

According to court papers, Tenino High School Assistant Principal Gary Martin reported that "Dawn Welter and (the girl) had been seen alone together in Dawn Welter's classroom with the lights off and the door locked." That may be hard to explain.

Meanwhile, it's possible that a child rape charge will be filed in coastal Pacific County for an alleged overnight episode in a South Bend hotel room.

Welter has been placed on administrative leave by the Tenino School District.


[Update 08/14/07]

Welter sentenced.