Former Kirkland Basketball Coach Found Not Guilty of Inappropriate Communications

Former Lake Washington High boys basketball coach Barry Thatcher Johnson was found not guilty Friday of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, Kirkland Municipal Court staff confirmed.

Johnson, who was suspended in March of 2012, had pleaded not guilty to the gross misdemeanor, but though he disputed the charge had resigned his post last year.

He was suspended as coach last year in the middle of the basketball season after a complaint by a 16-year-old female student, who according to reports had compained of repeated unwanted attention.

The Kirkland Reporter reported today that a jury found Johnson not guilty within minutes after closing arguments.

Two other coaches, Lake Washington High softball coach Troy Hennum and Juanita High baseball coach Sherman Leach also were put on leave last year. Hennum recently resigned from the Seattle School District after new allegations of inappropriate texts while he was a coach there surfaced.