Details emerge in sex charges against band director

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published April 17, 2008

TUMWATER – The band director for A.G. West Black Hills High School was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday following allegations that he sexually abused two underage boys in 2007 while working as a counselor at a Boy Scout camp in Idaho.

Timothy Andrew Kellis, 38, is charged with one count of sexual abuse of a child and two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under age 16, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Latah County, Idaho.

Charges include allegations of fondling and oral sex.

Kellis entered a not-guilty plea during a first appearance in court, said his court-appointed attorney, Sunil Ramalingam.

Idaho police said they are investigating whether there are additional juvenile victims, either in Idaho or Tumwater. Idaho police say they have been in contact with Tumwater police.

As of Wednesday, there was no evidence that Kellis had sexual contact with any of his Tumwater students, said Bob Kuehl, executive director of human resources at the Tumwater School District.

Recorded phone call

Kellis was arrested Saturday in Idaho, several days after one of his accusers, a 15-year-old boy, called Kellis from Idaho and had a conversation that was tape-recorded by Idaho authorities.

During the phone call, the 15-year-old talked about being molested and told Kellis he was "confused and did not know what to do," court papers state.

The 15-year-old also told Kellis he had discussed the alleged molestation with someone else, and the third party told him to tell his parents, court papers say.

Kellis offered to meet the teen in Moscow, Idaho, and when Kellis arrived Saturday, an Idaho State Police detective arrested him.

Kuehl said he placed Kellis on paid administrative leave during a conversation with the band teacher Wednesday. Kuehl would not divulge details of the conversation.

Kuehl said Tuesday that the Tumwater district conducted background checks on Kellis before hiring him in 2006, and those checks did not turn up any evidence of sexual misconduct.