Tacoma teacher charged with having sex with student, pleads not guilty

A 30-year-old Washington High School teacher pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual misconduct with a minor for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old student.

Christopher McKay was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Pierce County Superior Court. After pleading not guilty, McKay was released on personal recognizance.

“Our schools should be safe havens,” Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said.

On Jan. 30, the student told a Pierce County Sheriff’s detective that she had been having sexual intercourse with McKay two or three times a month since April 2014, according to court documents. The student said she would arrive at school an hour early and study in McKay’s classroom.

In March 2014, the two began communicating through text messages. A month later, they had sex for the first time after a walk on the beach, according to prosecutors. Over the next nine months, they had sex at McKay’s apartment and at his girlfriend’s house while she was at work.

On one occasion, McKay’s girlfriend returned home while the student was there. McKay told her that he was providing the student with emotional support because her mother had been diagnosed with cancer. McKay’s girlfriend told him not to bring students to her house.

The victim began to cut herself and have suicidal thoughts, according to the prosecutor’s office.

In one instance, the victim had a panic attack and begged McKay to stay home with her on a school day. A few hours later, she received a call from a person claiming to be McKay’s attorney. He told her that she needed to leave McKay’s apartment and not have further contact with him.

When the victim called McKay, he said he could not speak to her because someone had called Child Protective Services.