Elementary school teacher charged with sex crimes

SEATTLE -- A Kent elementary school teacher was charged Thursday with sex crimes against three minors that allegedly occurred between 2004 and 2008.

Patrick Michael Belser, 44, of Auburn, was charged with two counts of third-degree child rape, third-degree child molestation and  first-degree incest.

The alleged crimes occurred in Kent, Marysville and Vancouver, Wash. One of the alleged victims, who is now an adult, told his mother this May and then the police, according to court documents.

Belser is a second-grade teacher at SunnycrestElementary School in Kent -- which is  part of the Federal Way School District -- and he was placedonadministrativeleavewhenschooldistrictofficialslearnedoftheallegations.

According to the Federal Way Mirror, SunnycrestElementaryPrincipalRudyBacasentoutalettertoparentsonThursdayexplainingthesituation.

“It’simportanttoknowtheKingCountydetectivesdonotbelievethatstudentsatSunnycrestwerevictimizedorinvolved,”saidFederalWayPublicSchoolsspokeswomanAnnCook.“Further,lawenforcementofficialshavestatedtheseallegationsarenotrelatedtohisworkwhileemployedintheFederalWay School District.

“Whilewecannottalkaboutthespecificsofthiscriminalinvestigationandnoallegationhasbeenconclusivelyproven,anyfailuretoadheretothecriminallawsinthetreatmentofothersisdisappointingandunacceptable,”Bacawroteintheletter.

Bail was set at $150,000 for Belser. Arraignment is set for Aug. 27.