Veronica Dawkins
TACOMA, Washington — A Mount Tahoma High School teacher has been accused of having sex with an 18-year-old student and is expected to be charged with eight counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.
Pierce County prosecutors said Veronica Dawkins, 38, an English teacher at the school, had sex with a student who moved to the area from Kenya two years ago and lives alone, with help from a church sponsor.
“It is pretty shocking because she’s one of my favorite teachers,” one student at the school said.
The sexual encounters allegedly took place at Wapato Park in Tacoma, as well as at the victim’s home, prosecutors said.
The student told police that, “the relationship didn’t just materialize out of thin air. It developed. She’s a great teacher — very inspirational.”
KIRO 7 went to Dawkins’ home Thursday seeking comment from her, but no one answered the door.
“Yes, it is disappointing, but he’s 18, so they’re old enough to say no; they’re old enough to say yes,” said Lazendera Taylor, a student at Mount Tahoma High.
Not so, however, according to the Washington State Supreme Court.
In November, the court ruled 5-4 in favor of a clarification from the Washington Legislature that all sex between school employees and full-time registered students 16 or older is illegal.
Dawkins is scheduled to make her first court appearance tomorrow to be charged.
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