The Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office determined that they could not prosecute the Dean of Libraries John Danneker who was arrested on Monday, Oct. 14, for “communication with a minor for immoral purposes.”
On the day of Danneker’s arrest, the University Police Department was called about suspicious activity in front of Haggard Hall. There, they found and questioned Danneker and the reporting party. The pair had met online and Danneker invited the man, who claimed to be 16, to campus so they could find a place to engage in sexual acts, according to Eric Richey, Whatcom County’s prosecuting attorney.
However, Danneker didn’t break Washington state law by doing so, Richey said, citing a ruling in State v Luther.
“The court concluded that statute [9.68A. 090] does not prohibit communicating with a minor when the sexual conduct would be legal if performed,” said Eric Richey, Whatcom County’s prosecuting attorney. “The reason that is, is because the age of consent is 16 in the state of Washington.”
The reporting party was later revealed to be older, but even if he had been 16 years old, the act would have been legal, said Richey.
“To be as clear as possible, we are prohibited from prosecuting. It is not a crime,” Richey said.
Danneker, who was released from jail at 2:57 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, remains on administrative leave with the university and will not return to his position as Dean of Libraries.
Eli Voorhies (he/him) is a fourth-year student at Western in the visual journalism program. Now serving as the managing editor, he has worked two previous stints as a Front editor and interned for Cascadia Daily News. Outside of the newsroom, he rock climbs and loses track of time in the photography dark room on campus. You reach him at eliv.thefront@gmail.com
