Pierce County elementary teacher found guilty of multiple instances of child molestation

A Peninsula School District fifth-grade teacher has been found guilty of molesting several students.

A jury found Jordan Henderson, 34, guilty on 12 of 13 counts of child molestation in the first degree, KIRO 7 reported Monday.

Henderson arrested for child molestation at Evergreen Elementary School in 2024

Henderson was arrested earlier in 2024 for child molestation at Evergreen Elementary School in Lake Bay. He was charged with nine counts of first-degree molestation in April 2024, following a two-month investigation.

In June 2024, a fourth student came forward, stating Henderson groped and threatened her several times while in his class.

The student reportedly felt safer telling her parents about Henderson’s abuse after he was arrested. She said Henderson touched her inappropriately multiple times while she was in his class. In one instance, according to charging documents acquired by The News Tribune, Henderson came around her and hugged her from behind. He allegedly pushed his “boy part” against her, making her uncomfortable. Court documents stated he continued doing it until she asked him to stop and forced herself out of his grasp.

Three additional child molestation charges in the first degree were added after the fourth student’s allegations came forward.

Other instances of hugging and touching were recorded in an interview, with one student saying she did not think it was how a teacher should hug a student.

In another instance, Henderson touched her “bottom” while other students around them were working, according to The News Tribune. The court documents said Henderson threatened her that if she told anybody about the “stuff that was happening,” he would find where she lived and come to her house. The student claimed she sometimes stays awake at night because she is afraid he will find her and do something to her.

Earlier reports of sexual assault by Henderson

An 11-year-old student reported to police in March 2024 that Henderson had touched her and other girls inappropriately in the fourth-grade class.

Henderson groped one underage student, according to court documents obtained by The News Tribune, telling the student that this is “something normal that teachers do, and to not go telling other people about it.”

Court documents stated he had multiple students stay in his classroom during lunch. What started as a group conversation led to him allegedly going around and touching all the girls. One girl claimed Henderson touched her “private part” and grabbed her thighs.

The instances allegedly occurred within weeks of the school year starting. In addition to the alleged repeated inappropriate comments and touching, Henderson would retaliate when students tried to stop him, allegedly getting angry and stopping the student from playing games with other students if she stopped him from touching her.

Teacher found guilty of child molestation also deacon at local church

Henderson began his career as a substitute teacher in the Peninsula School District in 2012. In addition to being a teacher, he was a deacon at the Wellspring Fellowship Church in Key Peninsula. His father is a pastor at the Wellspring Fellowship Church.

In 2024, the Wellspring Fellowship Church stated in a Facebook post, made by Henderson’s father, that the church supported him, according to The News Tribune. Three rows of seats at the courthouse were filled with church parishioners during his initial hearing in support, including Henderson’s parents, in-laws, and his wife.

He posted a $100,000 bond on April 22, 2024, but was arrested again on May 30, 2024, for violating his release conditions. His bail was increased to $750,000, which he posted on June 3, 2024.

Henderson was then found guilty on January 5, 2026, following a jury trial. His sentencing is scheduled for April 10, according to KIRO 7.

Contributing: Frank Sumrall and Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; KIRO 7

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