Former Olympia teacher accused of molesting student avoids prison by accepting plea deal
A former Olympia School District teacher accused of child molestation avoided a prison sentence on Friday by agreeing to a plea deal.
Jonathan J. Moore, 35, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault in Thurston County Superior Court.
Prosecutors previously charged Moore with third-degree child molestation, second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Those charges stemmed from accusations from a former student, who is now 19, according to court records.
The student told police Moore groomed him while he attended Jefferson Middle School and molested him while he attended Capital High School.
Moore entered an Alford plea, which means he maintains his innocence but pleaded guilty to an amended charge to avoid a possible worse outcome.
“I do not believe that I am guilty of the offense I am pleading to because it is not factually consistent to the original charges alleged,” Moore explained in a written statement to the court. “However, after consulting with my lawyer, I wish to plead guilty now to take advantage of the prosecutor’s recommendation.”
He goes on to state he feels there’s a “substantial likelihood” that he would have been convicted if the case processed to trial with the original charges.
Under the deal, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommended Moore get a first-time offender waiver and credit for time served so he would not go to prison.
Additionally, the office advised Moore be ordered to have no contact with the victim for five years as well as complete a psychosexual evaluation and follow through with any recommended treatment.
The deal also called for Moore to have no contact with minors except with the approval of a treatment provider. He must also provide a DNA sample and pay mandatory fines and fees.
Judge Mary Sue Wilson followed the prosecutor’s recommendation when she delivered a sentence on Friday.
Moore was officially sentenced to one day of total confinement but he got credit for one day of time served in the county jail. Wilson also sentenced Moore to 12 months of community custody, according to court records.
Moore has no other criminal convictions.
Olympia police arrested Moore in February 2023, about six months after starting an investigation into the student’s accusations. Moore’s bail was set at $25,000, which he posted the day after his arrest.
What did the student allege?
The student victim told police he met Moore at Jefferson Middle School where Moore taught a digital media class. Moore later followed the student to Capital High School.
The student said Moore communicated with him through Skype, email and other chat apps. They would often spend time together after school as well, he said.
The relationship became sexual once the student reached high school, he told police. There, he said Moore demanded he call him his boyfriend and tell him he loved him.
At one point, the student said Moore called him every night at about 11:30 p.m. and they would talk until about 1 a.m. During this time, the student said he hid who he was talking to from his parents and he started to fail his classes.
He said Moore began doing his homework for him, which resulted in him not knowing algebra or geometry.
The topic of sex first came up between them while the student was in middle school. Non-consensual sexual acts began when he was 16 or 17 years old, he said. These acts occurred after school when everyone else had left the building.
The student said Moore threatened to harm himself if he did not leave his friends or have sex with Moore. Court records indicate their physical contact ended in December 2021, but they continued to communicate into 2022.
What did the school district do?
An Olympia police detective contacted Capital High School administration on Aug. 12, 2022, and learned Moore had been placed on leave due to other professional misconduct allegations involving students.
The district fired Moore on Sept. 15, 2022, for matters that were separate from the situation that led to his arrest, The Olympian previously reported.
The Olympia School District conducted its own investigation, which included several witness accounts of Moore making inappropriate comments about relationships and sex.
Witnesses also alleged Moore threatened to fire students from the school’s KOUG TV program if they had any contact with the student victim.
Around the time of Moore’s arrest, Jefferson Middle School principal Jane Allaire sent an email to families that acknowledge the situation, The Olympian previously reported.
“The school district takes all allegations regarding risks of harm to students seriously,” Allaire said. “We want you to know that we are fully cooperating with law enforcement regarding this matter.”
Allaire said Moore passed a background check before being hired. Additionally, Moore had completed annual required training on professional boundaries in the six years he worked for the district.
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Former Olympia teacher accused of molesting student avoids prison by accepting plea deal."
