— by Margie Doyle —

Gerald Grillet-Tinner is in jail pending sentencing, after a 12-member jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual misconduct in the first degree with a minor, County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord said on June 27.

The jury trial, which began on June 13 and concluded with the jury verdict on June 24, arose out of Grillet-Tinner, 59, having sexual contact with a student when he was employed by the Orcas Island School District as a high school science teacher. The student, 19, is defined as a minor under state law.

The jury deliberated for six hours before deciding at 3:40 p.m. on Friday, June 24 that the state had proved all elements of the offense; that sexual contact took place on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6, 2015 at Grillet-Tinner’s home in the Rosario area; that there was a teacher-student relationship; and that there was a 40-year age spread between Grillet-Tinner and the student.

Judge Donald Eaton presided at the trial. Grillet-Tinner was detained pending sentencing and is now at the Coupeville detention facility. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22 at 1:30 p.m. in Friday Harbor.

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