October 7, 2008
- Pasco, Washington
Former Kennewick Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sexual Misconduct
By Rudabeh Shahbazi
KENNEWICK-- A former Kennewick High teacher pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual misconduct in a Seattle courtroom Thursday. He faces up to ten years in prison.
The case has been painful for all involved, but at least William Pickerel's victims will not have to go through the extra pain of reliving their experience in trial. Pickerel admitted to sexually assaulting dozens of boys over the course of 27 years-- so many he's lost count, according to court documents. "It's just a sad situation all around," said Kennewick High history teacher Darain Brown, adding that the scandal has been hard on more than just Pickerel's victims. The longtime history teacher was well liked, and more importantly, well trusted. "If he did it, he should own up to it, but it just didn't seem like him," said Richard Boatright, a Kennewick High student who had Pickerel as a substitute teacher. "He just seemed like a really nice guy." "He's always a nice guy to everyone, it just didn't seem like him," echoed another student, Russel Rust. The fact that so many kids thought Pickerel was "a really nice guy," is the reason the prosecutor added an aggravated factor to each of his four charges. He says Pickerel used his position of trust to take advantage of his victims. The boys ranged in age from 15 to 17 at the time of the abuse, and told detectives Pickerel fondled, masturbated and performed sex acts on them during trips to Seattle. "You never fail to get surprised," said Brown, who has known Pickerel since he was a student at Kennewick High. "And you should be careful about who you put your faith in." Pickerel took dozens of boys to sporting events in Seattle, where he would give them spending money, dine them and pay for limousine rides, according to court documents. At the end of the night, Pickerel would retire to the same hotel room with the boys, where he would share a bed with one of them, according to court docuements. That's when he would assault them. "I thought it [the trips] was something he was giving back to the community or something like that," said Boatright, who had heard stories about Pickerel taking students to the West-side. "I don't like him, I never have," said Jenifer Petrick, another student. "I had him as a teacher and he was always an @#**^%@ to me." She added that Pickerel "never liked any girls." Part of Pickerel's plea deal includes dropping the charges he faced in Benton County. Prosecutor Andy Miller said he dropped the charges because some of the victims involved in the King County cases are the same boys that were victimized here. "We're happy that it's over so everyone can move on and the healing process can begin, because it's a really sensitive subject," said Brown. Pickerel will remain in King County Jail until he is sentenced next month. The State is asking for an exceptional sentence, and Pickerel will have to register as a sex offender if and when he is released. He is already 72 years old. |
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