Accused BHS teacher may change ‘not guilty’ plea this week

The Bainbridge teacher accused of having sex with one of her teenage students will have a hearing in Kitsap County Superior Court later this week where attorneys are expected to talk about the teacher changing her plea from "not guilty."

By Brian Kelly • October 14, 2015 1:23 pm
Jessica M. Fuchs appears before Kitsap Superior Court Judge William C. Houser at her arraignment in May.
Jessica M. Fuchs appears before Kitsap Superior Court Judge William C. Houser at her arraignment in May.

The Bainbridge teacher accused of having sex with one of her teenage students will have a hearing in Kitsap County Superior Court later this week where attorneys are expected to talk about the teacher changing her plea from “not guilty.”

Jessica M. Fuchs was arrested in early May at her Bainbridge home and charged with two felonies — first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, and tampering with a witness — and the gross misdemeanor of communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Fuchs was arrested after police learned of an ongoing sexual relationship between Fuchs and a 16-year-old student in her 10th-grade biology class at Bainbridge High.

Fuchs entered a “not guilty” plea to the two felony charges and the gross misdemeanor at her arraignment on May 11.

Her trial had been scheduled to start Monday, Oct. 19.

In a hearing before Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jeanette Dalton last week, however, the court agreed to hold an omnibus hearing (a pretrial meeting where any procedural or constitutional issues are handled) on Thursday, Oct. 15.

At that meeting this week, Fuchs’ attorney and the deputy prosecuting attorney are expected to talk about a change in plea, according to court records.

Fuchs has the option of changing her plea to “guilty,” or entering an Alford plea, in which a defendant does not acknowledge guilt for the crimes but admits she would likely be found guilty of such charges at trial.

Fuchs, 26, was a first-year science teacher at BHS. She was arrested after school officials confronted her about an alleged relationship between her and one of her teenage students.

The relationship was allegedly discovered after the boy’s mother looked at his phone and saw Snapchat conversations with a person named “Jess.” The boy later admitted to having a sexual relationship with his teacher.

Fuchs is no longer a teacher on Bainbridge Island; she was told by the school district in May that her teaching contract would not be renewed in the next school year. She moved from Bainbridge Island in early September and currently lives in Kent.

Fuchs’ attorney did not respond to a phone call for comment early this week.