Former Teacher Arrested in Yakima 2009 Cold Case Sexual Assault Claims

Yakima Police Department’s Special Assault Unit and U.S. Marshalls have arrested a suspect in connection with a decades-old sexual assault case involving a former West Valley Junior High School teacher and student. The Superior Court of Yakima County has jurisdiction over this case.  49-year-old Tyrone August Sissom is being held in the King County jail. He's expected to be back in Yakima as early as today.

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THE STUDENT, NOW AN ADULT, ATTENDED WEST VALLEY JUNIOR HIGH

According to the police department's press release, a former student of West Valley Junior High reported in March of this year that they had been involved in a relationship with one of the teachers while attending the school.

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The victim, now an adult, came forward to law enforcement, describing an incident they claim took place in 2009 when they were 15 years old. The relationship reportedly involved ongoing contact and intimacy over several years until the teacher moved away from Yakima.

The report also says detectives from the Special Assault Unit say that after interviewing the victim, collecting evidence, and verifying details matching the victim's claims found probable cause for arrest of Sissom.

POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT WAS FOUND TEACHING IN FEDERAL WAY

Authorities say before working in Federal Way Sissom worked as a teacher in the West Valley School District during the school years of 2007-08 and 2008-09.

THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED AFTER LEAVING HIS HOME

Yakima Police say they obtained an arrest warrant and worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to arrest Sissom early Monday morning, May 4th, as he was leaving his residence in Kent.

According to public records, Sissom is currently facing one charge of rape of a child 3rd degree and two counts communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, and bail has been set at $75,000.

If you have any information related to this case, contact Yakima Police Department Supervisor Ryan Yates at (509) 575-6200.