HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — An elementary school teacher accused of sexually assaulting several students is scheduled to go to trial in June.
Miles Reyes Washington appeared Tuesday morning in the Superior Court of Guam for a hearing in a case in which he is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
In the hearing, attorneys discussed ongoing negotiations and the exchange of discovery briefly before Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena confirmed that Washington’s jury selection and trial are scheduled for June 17. Washington, however, is scheduled to appear again for a status hearing on May 8.
According to Post files, Washington received a plea offer from the Office of the Attorney General in November 2023.
Charges
Washington was charged on Feb. 25, 2023, after parents of three elementary school students reported Washington had allegedly touched the students’ “private parts,” according to a magistrate’s complaint.
The reports from the victims stated Washington followed them to the bathroom, where he sexually assaulted all three students in a time period between January and February 2023, the complaint stated.
Two of the students were 8 years old and one was 9 years old, according to the complaint.
During the Guam Police Department’s investigation, officers also learned there was a fourth victim who had filed a report in 2018 concerning Washington. The report, according to the complaint, stated on or about Sept. 25, 2018, Washington allegedly followed the victim into the bathroom and sexually assaulted him.
The student was 8 years old at the time, according to the complaint.
A review of Guam Department of Education staffing patterns showed Washington has been a teacher at Upi Elementary School since 2009.
After he was charged, GDOE issued a statement announcing Washington was detailed to the Tiyan central office while the matter was being investigated.
Washington was confined to the Department of Corrections on $50,000 bail, which he paid, resulting in his release on March 15, 2023. As a result of being released, Washington was placed on house arrest with electronic monitoring and ordered not to contact his accusers.
According to the GDOE staffing pattern for the first quarter of 2024, Washington continued to be employed at GDOE as a program coordinator for the child nutrition program.
A “Justice For All” plaque is seen Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, on the old Superior Court Building at the Guam Judicial Center in Hagåtña.
