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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, August 31, 2008 Bank records studied in Christian school sex case Former principal's debit-card history examined for links to case By Diana Hefley Herald Writer ARLINGTON -- Snohomish County sheriff's detectives are examining the bank records of a former private Christian school principal accused of raping a student. Mark Brown, 37, was the principal at Highland Christian School when he allegedly encouraged a 14-year-old student to run away from home. The girl told detectives Brown set up a room for her at the school, complete with a hide-a-bed and a television. Brown is accused of sexually assaulting the girl while she was stashed away at Highland. Sheriff's detectives found the room when they searched the Arlington school last month, according to a search warrant recently filed in Everett District Court. Detectives seized a couch cushion, hair, food wrappers, a prepaid phone card and notes from Brown's office. The detectives also seized receipts from purchases at a local Safeway, along with a small brown paper bag, they wrote in court records. The bag may have come from the Arlington liquor store, detectives said. The girl told detectives Brown left the school June 13 and returned with a bottle of Bacardi rum. She said Brown provided her some of the booze before he assaulted her, police wrote in the search warrant. Detectives confirmed that the Arlington liquor store uses small brown bags similar to the one found in the school. They also determined the seized grocery store receipts came from a Safeway near the liquor store, court records said. Investigators spoke with officials at the state Liquor Control Board and learned that one bottle of Bacardi rum was sold at the Arlington liquor store on June 13. The buyer bought the booze with a debit card. Sheriff's detectives are probing Brown's debit transaction history to determine if he purchased the $13.95 bottle of rum. Detectives first arrested Brown on July 9 for investigation of harboring a minor, obstructing justice and making a false statement to a public servant. The girl reportedly told investigators about two weeks later that Brown had sexually assaulted her while she was in the room at school. Detectives searched Highland the next day. Brown was charged July 23 with third-degree child rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. He remains free on bail. Members of the Highland School Board had learned on July 14 that Brown had been arrested for harboring the girl. The board didn't place him on administrative leave until he was charged with child rape. School board members released a statement in support of Brown when he was arraigned on the charge. They fired him a couple days later. Brown came to the private Christian school after he lost his previous job as a wrestling coach at Concrete High School in Skagit County. He was investigated there after reports of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female student. The Concrete student denied any sexual contact with Brown. She told Skagit County investigators they exchanged text messages and went to dinner together and that Brown occasionally gave her a ride home. No charges were filed. Snohomish County sheriff's detectives believe Brown and the Highland student exchanged nearly 700 text messages. Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.

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