PASCO, Wash.-A former teacher in the Pasco School District has been charged with two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.
Shakell Walker worked at McLoughlin Middle School, Ray Reynolds Middle School, Ochoa Middle School and at McClintock STEM Elementary, according to the PSD.
The investigation into Walker began when one of his former students, a female who is now 19, told her neighbor that he groomed and raped her when she was a student at McLoughlin, according to probable cause documents from Franklin County Superior Court.
During an interview with Pasco PD, the victim told detectives that she became friends with Walker and that the two often communicated on social media after she left McLoughlin and entered high school.
According to probable cause documents, Walker provided alcohol to the student on multiple occasions, including one instance when she was 17, that led to her performing oral sex on him while intoxicated.
When interviewed by a Pasco PD Detective, Walker admitted to having social media contact with six males outside of school and to meeting the female victim in his truck, however, he refused to say if he’d ever provided her alcohol or had sexual contact with her.
Several of Walker’s former male students were also interviewed during the investigation and confirmed that they had communicated with him through social media.
Another former McLoughlin student revealed that he sent a selfie of himself, shirtless from the chest up, to Walker when he was a seventh grader.
That incident was investigated by the PSD in 2022, however, the photo was not provided by the former student at the time, according to probable cause documents.
The Pasco School District provided NonStop Local with the following statement on the allegations, investigation and charges against Walker.
“Pasco School District has learned that former district employee Shakell Walker is being charged by the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for illegal conduct with a minor. The investigation began in February 2023 after the district received a call from a concerned parent. Mr. Walker was immediately placed on administrative leave following standard district procedure and the report was made to law enforcement.
If true, these allegations represent a breach of our trust and a disappointing departure from our standards for all district employees. The safety of our students is the highest priority of our school and district staff members.”
Walker was released on his personal recognizance on June 18 and his next court appearance is scheduled for July 16.
The maximum penalty for each count of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes is five years and a fine of $10,000, according to court documents.
