Teacher arrested in "underaged sting"

An elementary school teacher was arrested Monday on a charge of “Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes.”

Kittitas County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Ross Ashenfelter, a fourth-grade teacher at Lake Roosevelt Elementary School at 11:55 a.m.

Ashenfelter, 42, of Coulee Dam, was arrested at the school, where he was doing some administrative work while the school was closed for the holiday, the sheriff’s department said in a statement.

The sheriff’s office said the arrest resulted from investigations by detectives with the Washington taskforce on Internet-facilitated Crimes Against Children (ICAC). ICAC investigations by KCSO detectives have resulted in numerous arrests and convictions across the state.

Characterized as an “underaged sting operation,” the investigation is one of many by ICAC, which is federally funded. Ashenfelter believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, confirmed Public Information Officer Chris Whitset with the sheriff’s office.

No specifics were provided on how that communication allegedly happened.

Ashenfelter was taken to Ellensburg for booking into the Kittitas County Jail. “Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to call Kittcom at 509-925-8534 and refer to case S25-14609,” a KCSO post on social media stated.

KCSO notified the district of the arrest, and Superintendent Rod Broadnax issued a statement: “Please be assured that the Grand Coulee Dam School District strictly follows all legal requirements regarding the hiring of personnel, including conducting thorough background checks on all employees.”

Ashenfelter is in his second year teaching at LR Elementary.

The KCSO post said the arrest underscores the continuing need for proactive investigations targeting those who prey on the young and vulnerable.

“Protecting children has long been a top priority for law enforcement in our community,” Sheriff Clay Myers said, “and we will continue to use our abilities and resources to pursue anyone who would harm kids, wherever and whoever they are.”