Pierce County prosecutors weigh rape charge in transgender teen wrestling case
Feb 11, 2026, 5:13 PM | Updated: 7:09 pm
General view of wrestling room. (Photo: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
(Photo: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
Prosecutors in Pierce County are weighing a rape charge against a transgender girl accused of sexually assaulting a female competitor during a high school wrestling match last December in Puyallup.
The alleged incident happened during a match on December 6 and was captured on video. The girl reported the alleged assault to school officials on December 8, but it wasn’t reported to the school resource officer until January 30.
Video evidence inconclusive
The only real evidence is the video shot by the girl’s mother, and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carly Cappetto said what the video actually shows is inconclusive.
“What’s being alleged isn’t visibly seen by the eye. However, that doesn’t mean that an incident hasn’t happened. It’s just not visible by the evidence,” Cappetto explained.
Whether there was a crime or not, school officials are mandatory reporters, which means they must report all allegations to police within 48 hours. The school resource officer wasn’t told about the incident for nearly two months.
“The family did express frustration that their voices weren’t being heard and that they didn’t feel their case was being taken seriously,” Cappetto said.
Puyallup State Representative Cyndy Jacobsen said the delayed reporting raises concerns.
“School personnel are mandatory reporters, and we think just for the public’s comfort, at least, this should be looked into very carefully,” Jacobsen said. “This incident happened back in December, and when it began being reported, it was right when Brandi Kruse came out with her story. So, that is troublesome.”
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State lawmakers call for accountability
House Republicans in Olympia released a statement Wednesday and spoke by phone to KIRO Newsradio.
“Children must be protected from harm, and any allegation that a child has been victimized must be treated with the utmost seriousness and care,” House Republicans said in a statement. “In light of these allegations, the school district must be completely open and accountable for anything that occurred and hold accountable anyone who intentionally failed to act or who covered up any allegations.”
The Puyallup School District released a statement to KIRO Newsradio Wednesday.
“This matter is under investigation. As such, we cannot share details or discuss specifics,” the statement said. “What we can say is that student safety is a top priority and that all reports involving student safety are taken seriously.”
Pierce County prosecutors will now decide if there is enough evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no timeline for when a charging decision will be made.
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