SEATTLE (WA)
Komo News [Seattle, WA]
February 27, 2025
A 32-year-old now-former teacher at Archbishop Murphy High School (AMHS) in Everett has been charged with sex crimes involving very young children.
According to King County court records, John Doty was arrested after investigators discovered multiple downloaded files on his computer that contained explicit child pornography in video and image form. The documents state many of the victims were between 4 and 7 years old, with some likely being as young as 1 year old.
“He said that he doesn’t find the content with kids sexually arousing and doesn’t have a sexual interest in kids, but he finds it exciting to know that he is doing something illegal,” the documents read.
Doty allegedly told investigators he downloaded the abuse material as part of his “crime game,” and described downloading, watching, and distributing the child abuse materials as “…very silly but still thrilling, [like] ‘Oops, I did a crime.'”
Prosecutors allege Doty downloaded and distributed the images between June and July of 2024.
According to a statement issued by AMHS, Doty was placed on administrative leave on Thursday after his arrest, and then “subsequently terminated.” Students and parents were notified Monday that he was no longer employed at the school.
The AMHS statement confirmed Doty was employed at the school, but did not say what he taught. The school also stressed that Doty’s arrest was unrelated to his employment at the school
The school’s full statement is below:
“The King County Sheriff’s Department notified us on Thursday that Mr. John Doty was arrested. He was immediately placed on administrative leave and then subsequently terminated. On Monday we informed his students and their parents that he was no longer employed at the school.
Based on the information we have been provided by law enforcement, the arrest is for misconduct unrelated to his employment at Archbishop Murphy. All AMHS employees are screened using a background check and complete Safe Environment training throughout their employment.
If you have any concerns about your student or their interactions with Mr. Doty, please let us know by contacting any administrator. Our counselors are also available to meet with students who may be impacted by this news.
The safety of our students and children within the broader community is our top priority.”
Doty has been charged with dealing in depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree and possession of depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree. Doty is being held on $250,000 bail.