A substitute teacher from Washington state is charged with molesting a kindergartner at an elementary school in Kent.
Earlier this month, the regular teacher went home sick and a teacher known as "Mr. D" finished the school day, authorities said. That teacher was John V. DeVeiteo, 72, according to police.
Police were told that DeVeiteo had a girl sit on his lap while watching a cartoon, and that DeVeiteo locked the door during the incident, authorities said.
The girl told her father that the man put his hand inside the front of her pants and that the teacher stopped when the girl yelled to stop, according to police.
Police said the molestation was described again in detail to a child interview specialist for the King County Prosecutor’s Office. The incident occurred during recess, the girl said.
DeVeiteo had been a substitute teacher in the Kent School District since 2018.
“He has substituted for various teachers at multiple schools in the district on several occasions,” Kent Police Detective Steve Kelly wrote in a probable cause document.
According to the detective, Kent School District staff found that a YouTube video played on DeVeiteo’s computer was consistent with what the girl described.
DeVeiteo declined to speak with the investigating detective on the advice of his attorney.
“Per our policy, the guest teacher was immediately removed from substitute availability with no further access to students,” school district spokeswoman Melissa Laramie said in an email. “Local law enforcement was notified and we cooperated fully in their investigation.”
Laramie said she could not comment on the specifics because of the ongoing legal process.
DeVeiteo is expected to have an arraignment to enter a plea in July.
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