CAMAS, Wash. -- A Camas High School softball coach was arrested Friday on allegations that he inappropriately touched 17 girls at the school within the last month, police said.
Robbyn D. Mattson, 58, who also works as a custodian at the school, was jailed on eight counts of child molestation, five counts of sexual misconduct and four counts of assault with sexual motivation, according to Sgt. Scot Boyles of the Camas Police Department.
Camas High School Principal Steve Marshall said he first heard about the allegations Tuesday, and he reported them to police. Mattson was then placed on administrative leave.
Investigators spoke with victims, witnesses and school faculty members and then saw surveillance video that helped them develop probable cause for Mattson's arrest, Boyle said.
Parents were asked to speak with their children about the incident and call police at (360) 834-4151 if they have more information.
Camas School District spokeswoman Doreen McKercher sent out the following statement Friday afternoon:
Following an investigation this week, Camas Police Department announced the arrest of Robbyn Mattson, a custodian and coach at Camas High School, for felony charges. In response, the Camas School District is taking swift and appropriate employment action.
"There is nothing more important to us than the safety of the students we serve. So once we became of aware of this situation, we took immediate action to protect both our students and the educational environment of our school," commented Camas High School Principal Steve Marshall.
"Over the past three days, we have shared in the pain felt by these students, their families, and the community. Every day, we are responsible for the safety of more than 2,000 students. There is a trust put in us to protect the children we serve and that trust something I value and want to keep."
"These events remind us that our job protecting students is never done," said Marshall. "So while I am proud of the steps that we've taken to enhance student safety, the only way we can have the safest schools is by being as proactive as possible and having strong partnerships with parents and the community."
"I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the responsive, thorough, and respectful manner in which the Camas Police Department has handled this issue. This has been a multi-faceted investigation and they have conducted it very well. Our priority now is to reach out to students who have been affected and support them in any way possible," Marshall said.
Camas High School counseling staff will be available to students throughout the winter break.
When situations like this arise, community members often ask how potential employees are screened. At time of hire, all school employees are required to be fingerprinted for a Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation background record check. (RCW 28A.400.303) Fingerprint record checks are just one part of the rigorous process by which the district selects teaching and support staff members.
