Trial of Grellet-Tinner moved from January to March

Published 12:56 pm Tuesday, January 12, 2016

The trial of Gerald Grellet-Tinner, 59, an Orcas High School teacher who pled not guilty to having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student of his, has been moved to March 7. The original date was set for Jan. 11.

On Feb. 26, a pre-trial omnibus hearing will be held to determine the admissibility of evidence. Grellet-Tinner has been charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, which is a felony. He is being represented by Lawrence Delay of Friday Harbor.

The alleged sexual encounters occurred with one of Grellet-Tinner’s science class students in early October. Sheriff Ron Krebs told the Journal in October that although the student was 18 years old, which is older than the age of consent in Washington state, the two also had a teacher-student relationship.

According to San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord, the state legislature changed the age of a minor to age 21 if that person is a student of a teacher – not age 18.

“If the student was under 18, the charge would have been rape of a child,” Krebs said. After an investigation by the San Juan County Sheriff ’s Office and an outside investigator retained by the Orcas Island School District, a search warrant was served to Grellet-Tinner at his residence on Orcas Island.

Investigators removed items that possibly contained DNA evidence.

“At that time we took him into custody,” Krebs said.

Grellet-Tinner was arrested in late October. His bail was posted at $100,000 which he posted the money himself and was released.

According to Orcas School Superintendent Eric Webb, the district took immediate action as soon as the allegations were made by placing the teacher on administrative leave, notifying the San Juan County Sheriff ’s Department and obtaining an investigator.

This is Grellet-Tinner’s first year as a teacher for the school.