Tag Archives: sexual misconduct

An old story under a new light

While doing a little Google research on Stephen C. Buitenveld, the teachers aide charged with indecent liberties with one of his students, I came across a quote attributed to him in a 2003 Bainbridge Island Review article about the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center. That’s the place he’s now accused of inappropriately touching a developmentally disabled female student in a swimming pool and hot tub.

In the six-year-old story, Buitenveld is giving swimming lessons to a student, and mentions how he and his students visit the center frequently.

Here’s the section that mentions Buitenveld:

“We love it,” said Steve Buitenveld, a high school paraeducator at the pool last week to work with [name redacted], a special-needs student. “Last year we swam three days (a week). [Name redacted] and I really like the hot tub. Don’t we, [name redacted]?”

…Buitenveld added, “It’s accessible, (and) you can come anytime you want.”

According to police, the accusations and video tape footage indicating sexual misconduct with a minor under Buitenveld’s care has put his six or more years as a teacher’s aid on Bainbridge in question. Police are investigating other possible incidents involving Buitenveld and his current and former students, and the mentally challenged females who live in his home. Police police are asking anyone with information about possible past inappropriate incidents involving Buitenveld to contact them at (206) 842-5211.

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Teacher’s aide charged with indecent liberties

The 62-year-old Bainbridge High School classroom aid was charged with one count of felony indecent liberties Wednesday in Kitsap County Superior Court, according to the Kitsap County Prosecutors Office.

Stephen C. Buitenveld is suspected of sexual misconduct with one of his students.

He was arrested Friday. Bainbridge Police said a witness and security camera footage indicated he had inappropriately touched a 17-year-old developmentally disabled girl at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center’s swimming pool and hot tub.

He was released from jail on $15,000 bail on Monday night.

Bainbridge police are continuing their investigation and are seeking information about other possible incidents involving Buitenveld.

Bainbridge police can be reached at (206) 842-5211.

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BI educator accused of sexual abuse released from jail

The 62-year-old Bainbridge High School classroom aid suspected of sexual misconduct with one of his students was released from the Kitsap County Jail on Monday night.

The suspect was arrested Friday after a witness and security camera footage indicated he had inappropriately touched a 17-year-old developmentally disabled girl at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center’s swimming pool and hot tub.

Bainbridge police had initially set bail at $500,000 because the suspect was considered likely to flee authorities.The suspect tried to run away from police when they attempted to contact him at his Ferncliff Avenue home Friday evening. The suspect refused to speak with investigators and was arrested on suspicion of felony indecent liberties.

A judge reduced bail on Monday to $15,000. The suspect posted bail and was released at 8:58 p.m.

The Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet decided upon any formal charges.

It is the Kitsap Sun’s policy to not release suspect names until formally charged.

Bainbridge police are continuing their investigation and are seeking additional information about other possible incidents involving the suspect.

The suspect has worked in classrooms with developmentally disabled students for at least six years, according to Bainbridge School District officials. Investigators also learned the suspect is a caregiver for mentally challenged females who live in his home.

Bainbridge police can be reached at (206) 842-5211.

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Park officials say public pool is safe, despite recent sexual misconduct incidents

Friday’s arrest of a Bainbridge man for inappropriately touching a girl at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center is the second sexual misconduct incident at the public pool in just over a year.

In April 2008, a 44-year-old Bainbridge man was accused of going into a bathroom near the center’s lobby with a 4-year-old girl. According to police, he then took off her bathing suit and observed her use the restroom. The girl’s mother, thinking she’d been in the facility too long, eventually entered and encountered the man, who “froze” and then left, police said. Though charged, the man’s sexual molestation case was thrown out due to lack of evidence.

Officials from the Bainbridge park district, which runs the aquatic center, stressed that the pool is still a safe place for families.

“I think we’re doing an excellent job protecting the public,” park district director Terry Lande said today.

The center has several cameras in public areas and staff are trained to look for signs of sexual misconduct, he said.

“Is (the center) unsafe? It’s probably as safe as any public pool in the country,” he said. “But there are some pretty horrible people out there who walk the streets and walk into public buildings.”

Lande was surprised that the alleged incidents connected to Friday’s arrest occurred out in the open and during a swimming class. Police say the incidents were recorded by the center’s security cameras.

The park district immediately turned over the center’s security tapes and is working with police on the investigation, Lande said.

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UPDATED: Bainbridge man arrested for sexual misconduct at public pool

Bainbridge Island police have arrested a 62-year-old male paraeducator on suspicion of taking indecent liberties with a 17-year-old mentally disabled female at a public pool.

Bainbridge Island School District leaders told authorities late Thursday that they suspected the Ferncliff Avenue man was having inappropriate sexual contact with the girl. A witness reported seeing the man touch the female student in a hot tub and in a swimming pool at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center.

The girl is a student in one of the classes in which the suspect serves as a classroom aid.

Investigators reviewed video surveillance tapes from the pool, which they said confirmed what the witness saw, according to a statement from the Bainbridge Island Police Department.

Investigators also learned the man is a caregiver to mentally challenged females that live in his residence.

On Friday around 7:30 p.m., police apprehended the man at his home as he tried to escape.

He refused to speak with investigators and was arrested on suspicion of taking indecent liberties.

He is being held on $500,000 bail.

Bainbridge school district spokeswoman Pam Keyes confirmed that the victim is a Bainbridge High School student.

The suspect has worked for the district for at least six years. He has no record of sexual misconduct with the district.

“This is absolutely the first incident,” Keyes said.

The Kitsap Sun is withholding the suspect’s name until he is formally charged.

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