Details emerge in sex charges against band director

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.

Details from court

According to court papers filed in Latah County:

The information about Kellis' alleged molestation of juveniles came to light after one of the victims disclosed the activity to a teacher this month.

During the subsequent investigation, a 16-year-old told Idaho police that he first met Kellis at Boy Scout Camp Grizzly in 2006, when he was working as a counselor-in-training, and Kellis was a senior counselor.

The youth returned to Camp Grizzly in summer of 2007 to teach scout lore.

One evening at camp, while Kellis and the 16-year-old were watching a movie in the staff lounge, the teen said Kellis "kept poking him and touching him throughout the movie, and Kellis sat beside him."

After the movie, Kellis asked the 16-year-old to wait for him, and then asked him which tent he slept in, the teen said.

The 16-year-old said that around 1 a.m. that night, Kellis came to his tent and molested him. The 16-year-old "believes that Kellis came to his tent and repeated these actions approximately five times during the summer."

The other alleged victim, a 15-year-old, said he also first met Kellis at the camp in 2006. During evenings at the camp that year, the 15-year-old said he and other counselors-in-training would "hang out" in Kellis' cabin and watch movies on Kellis' laptop computer.

In the summer of 2007, the 15-year-old said he worked with Kellis in the shooting sports section of the camp. The 15-year-old said that in the evenings, Kellis would enter his tent at night and molest him. The youth said that summer, Kellis "continued to come into the tent and molest him every few nights."

Kellis' next court appearance is scheduled for April 24, but Ramalingam said he might have to ask for a continuance because he is scheduled to be in trial. Ramalingam declined further comment on Kellis' case.

Kellis has been the band director at Black Hills since October, 2006, Kuehl has said.

Kellis also is the teacher for one section of the band at Black Lake Elementary.

On Wednesday, the school district sent a letter home with students to inform parents about the situation.

The letter reads in part: "Current allegations do not involve any activities associated with Tumwater School District students or any school activities."

In Kellis' absence, his classes are being "team-taught" by band para-pro Keith Mitchell and substitute teacher Ellen Cornwell, the letter states.

"We will make every effort to continue to provide a stable, positive and supportive school environment for our students during this difficult time. If you have any questions or information to share, please contact Principal Rob Sawatsky at 709-7350."

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.