Local
Mukilteo Schools Athletics Director Charged with Rape, Molestation of Former Student
Russell Robinson, athletics and safety director for Mukilteo Public Schools, has been charged with third-degree rape of a child and third-degree child molestation for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old student in 2013 while he was a wrestling coach at Squalicum High School. He was placed on leave after his arrest and released on $100,000 bail.
MUKILTEO, Wash. â A top administrator in the Mukilteo School District has been charged with sexually assaulting a former student more than a decade ago, according to court records. Russell Robinson, the district's athletics and safety director, is accused of third-degree rape of a child and third-degree child molestation stemming from an incident in 2013, when he was a wrestling coach at Squalicum High School in Bellingham.
The charges were filed after a former student told investigators that Robinson assaulted him when he was 14 years old. According to court records, Robinson frequently spent time with student athletes outside of school. The victim reported that he and Robinson were once alone, dog-sitting for another student, when the coach offered him a massage and then sexually assaulted him.
The former student told police he was initially afraid to come forward because he believed Robinson owned guns and would retaliate against him. He also described a later incident in which he shared a hotel room with Robinson while attending a former classmate's college wrestling event, and Robinson watched him sleep for hours and touched his feet. The victim said he finally decided to report the allegations while trying to decide whether his own child should attend Bellingham Public Schools.
Robinson worked for Bellingham Public Schools from 2000 to 2026, leaving in June for a job in Mukilteo, according to a statement from the Bellingham district. The district said it learned of the sexual assault allegations in October 2026 and reported them to law enforcement. In a 2024 video published by Bellingham Public Schools after Robinson received a "One Schoolhouse" award, he said, "I'm working with students to try and find ways to make people feel safe and are safe in our buildings."
The Mukilteo School District said it hired Robinson in June 2026 after fingerprinting and background checks. The district placed him on leave after learning of his arrest on Oct. 29, 2026, and said it will monitor the case for any developments. Jail records show Robinson was released on $100,000 bail on Oct. 31. When contacted, Robinson told a reporter he had no comment.
The case has raised questions about how school districts screen employees and respond to allegations of past misconduct. Bellingham Public Schools said it reported the allegations promptly, but the charges against Robinson only surfaced after the victim came forward years later. The Mukilteo district said it followed its hiring protocols, including background checks, before employing Robinson.
Robinson's next court appearance has not been scheduled. The investigation is ongoing.