Blaine substitute teacher arrested on suspicion of first-degree child molestation

A Blaine school district substitute teacher was arrested November 2 on suspicion of first-degree child molestation after two middle school students reported he inappropriately touched them.

Blaine Police Department (BPD) began investigating Gerald William Robinson, 61, on October 13 after Blaine Middle School reported multiple female students had complained of inappropriate conduct by Robinson, wrote BPD sergeant Tim Richardson in an email to The Northern Light.

Two female students who were 11 and 12 years old reported Robinson touching intimate areas over their clothing, BPD lieutenant Michael Munden said. More than 10 students have reported to Blaine police that Robinson made them feel uncomfortable by staring or making inappropriate comments, though not all of those reports were criminal in nature, Munden said.

All of the incidents have occurred since the start of the school year on the middle school campus, Munden said, and some of those incidents were caught on camera.

Robinson declined to speak to Blaine police and was arrested without incident. Blaine officers booked Robinson into Whatcom County Jail on November 2 on a preliminary charge of first-degree child molestation. Robinson was released on November 3 after posting a $2,500 cash bond and had his preliminary court appearance the same day. 

Blaine school district superintendent Christopher Granger wrote in an email that Robinson began working as a substitute in January and worked at the Blaine primary, elementary, middle and high schools. The district removed Robinson from its substitute list after learning that Robinson may have engaged in inappropriate behavior.

“The district takes the health, safety and welfare of the district’s students very seriously and throughout this process the district will remain focused providing a positive educational experience for its students,” Granger wrote.

Anyone with additional information on this case or who has had an experience they regard as inappropriate behavior should call 911 and make a report, Munden said.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) 24-hour hotline is available at 360/715-1563 or 877/715-1563.

Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a Bellingham-based nonprofit working to end child abuse, can be reached at 360/734-4616 and brigidcollins.org.

Lummi Victims of Crime has a 24-hour helpline at 360/312-2015. The National Domestic Violence Helpline operates a chat line at thehotline.org/help.