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‘Kind of disgusting’: WA high school teacher charged with sex crimes involving young children

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EVERETT, Wash. — Students and staff on the campus of Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett are in disbelief over accusations against now-former science teacher John Doty.

The 32-year-old Doty is facing accusations of possessing and dealing in child pornography from July to December of last year.

According to charging documents, the extremely graphic content involved very young children.

Doty was arrested at his North Seattle apartment last week, where he allegedly told investigators “he enjoyed the thrill of knowing he committed a crime.”

“When you see the details of what happened to these children – it’s awful to read. Those photos and videos live on the internet forever and we also know that these cases happen far too frequently,” said Casey McNerthney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

According to Doty’s social media accounts, he had taught at the private school for 19 months, until he was fired after charges were filed Monday.

The school released a statement, saying, “Based on the information we have been provided by law enforcement, the arrest is for misconduct unrelated to his employment at Archbishop Murphy.”

Some of Doty’s former students said they were in shock.

“I was like pretty surprised that he would do something like that and I was kind of disgusted that was happening in our community,” said one student.

Doty is being held on $250,000 bail with a court appearance scheduled for March 10.

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