14-year-old Kingston High student arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting girl on school bus



KINGSTON, Wash. -- A 14-year-old Kingston High School student was arrested Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a girl aboard a school district bus, the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office said.

The incident purportedly occurred aboard a bus sometime within the past month, and the female victim was interviewed Tuesday by a forensic child interviewer on the staff of the Kitsap County prosecutor's office.

Sheriff’s also questioned a 14 year-old male suspect at Kingston High School, the sheriff's office said, and then he was  taken into custody and will be booked into the Kitsap County Youth Services Center on suspicion of second-degree rape.

The sheriff's office said no additional details will be released pending completion of the investigation.

"This case file investigation concerns a specific, isolated incident," the sheriff's office said. "It is not associated with recent news media reports of incidents of inappropriate conduct aboard a school district bus for special needs students."

North Kitsap School District Superintendent Patty Page issued the following statement:

"Good afternoon Parents and Staff,

"A student at Kingston High School was taken into Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office custody today as a result of an alleged sexual assault incident that purportedly occurred aboard a school district bus recently.  Reports from the Sheriff’s Office indicate that this was a specific isolated incident.  Upon reporting of the alleged assault, the District immediately worked with law enforcement to investigate.  The parents/guardians of the students involved have been notified.  Due to the ongoing investigation, and for student privacy reasons, we are unable to provide further details at this time.

"We understand that news of this nature is troubling for parents and children.  The safety and security of our students is our highest priority and we take allegations such as this very seriously.  We are cooperating fully with the law enforcement’s investigation while actively looking into this on our own."