Puyallup High School Teacher Sentenced to House Arrest for Sexual Relationship with Student

In spring 2019, Lindsey M. Westerfield, 31, was employed at Cascade Christian High School when she engaged in a sexual relationship with a student. Following an investigation by Puyallup detectives, Westerfield pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.

The investigation into Westerfield's actions began in 2019, but it wasn't until 2022, when she sought employment on the state’s charter school commission, that new details were disclosed. As a result, she was sentenced to six months of house arrest and a 54-month suspended sentence. In addition, she will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years and undergo related treatment for four years and six months. The court also ordered her to have no contact with the victim and prohibited her from holding any position with supervision of minors under age 13.

The charges and resignation

Westerfield was charged with two of the sexual encounters occurring after the victim turned 18, which violated state law prohibiting sexual conduct between students under 21 and school employees who are at least five years older. She resigned from her position at Cascade Christian Schools shortly after the police began their investigation. The investigation revealed that the teacher and student communicated on Snapchat and met up at each other’s houses and in parking garages, with none of their encounters taking place on school grounds.

After initially reporting an emotional relationship with Westerfield, the victim declined to talk about any sexual activity. However, after more than three years, further information was provided, revealing multiple sexual encounters and the steps they took to keep their meetings secret. The victim expressed horror upon reflection, acknowledging the vulnerability of students and the inappropriate nature of the relationship. Following these disclosures, Westerfield surrendered her education license and was fired from her position.

Contact with the victim's father and surrender of the license

Following Westerfield's termination, a Puyallup detective contacted the victim's father, who indicated that his son might be willing to provide more information about the relationship. Subsequently, the student described the encounters and the impact of the relationship on his education. He emphasized the importance of a school environment for learning and development, expressing his realization that it should not be a place for inappropriate relationships.