A judge on Monday ordered $100,000 bail for a Hudson’s Bay High School teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old female student at school in 2013, an allegation that was reported to school administrators at the time. Shadbreon Gatson, 43, an English teacher, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. He was arrested Friday after the former student, now 27, reported to Hudson’s Bay staff and Vancouver police earlier this month that she was sexually victimized. A Hudson’s Bay custodian told the school’s principals in June 2013  that he interrupted Gatson and the 16-year-old student engaging in sexual intercourse in a band room after hours, according to court records. Court records say the incident spurred an administrative investigation and was documented in a disciplinary letter in Gatson’s personnel file, along with other accusations of misconduct with female students between 2009 and 2017.

It’s unclear from court records whether school administrators contacted state Child Protective Services or Vancouver police. There are no police reports involving Gatson before 2024, according to Vancouver police spokeswoman Cmdr. Kathy McNicholas. Defense attorney Jon McMullen told the court that Gatson’s wife and friends were in the gallery to support Gatson, who appeared via Zoom from the Clark County Jail. The prosecution said the case may be combined with more recent allegations against Gatson involving a student in 2024. He is set to be arraigned Jan. 6. Gatson has been employed with Vancouver Public Schools since August 2008. He was placed on administrative leave Nov. 8, according to district spokeswoman Jessica Roberts.

Investigation In the 2013 incident, Gatson, who was 31, and the student denied having sex after the custodian reported the incident to the school’s principal, William Oman, and assistant principal, Valerie Seeley, according to court records. Seeley is now the school’s principal. The former student has since told investigators that they did have sex multiple times at Gatson’s residence and on school grounds, including the band room incident, court records state. The sexual encounters appeared to have been initiated by Gatson after arranging for the student to serve detention in his class after school, Vancouver police Officer Michael Musich wrote in a probable cause affidavit. The former student came forward due to ongoing emotional trauma and suspicion that Gatson had victimized other students, she told investigators, according to court records.

Musich reviewed letters between the former student and Gatson, as well as the former student’s journal. The journal, a school assignment from Gatson, allegedly documented the incidents, according to court records. Musich said he attempted to interview Gatson through a similar but separate investigation regarding another Hudson’s Bay student. But Gatson was unwilling to make any statements and said he’s being represented by an attorney, according to court records. After interviews with the former custodian, the former student’s friend, and other former and current school employees, police arrested Gatson. Vancouver Public Schools placed Gatson on administrative leave last month in connection with a law enforcement investigation into claims of inappropriate behavior, according to a Friday letter sent to parents by Seeley and district Superintendent Jeff Snell. This was the same month the district awarded him an Employee Excellence Award. Evidence of Gatson receiving the award is now scrubbed from the district’s social media and website.

“Whenever we receive a report of inappropriate behavior, we take it very seriously. These reports are thoroughly investigated by our school administration and human resources team. When necessary, we also involve law enforcement and independent third-party investigators to ensure a comprehensive review,” Snell wrote.