Teacher sentenced in sex case

EVERETT — A Ferndale High School student who had sex with her chemistry teacher said yesterday that she "doesn't regret" what happened.

The girl, who was 16 when she had sex with Thomas Sipsey in the Whatcom County school's weight room in February and later at an Everett motel, told a Snohomish County Superior Court judge yesterday that Sipsey was "a best friend."

Sipsey, 35, was found guilty yesterday of three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor following a stipulated trial in Superior Court. In such trials, judges render verdicts based on police reports and other documents. Unlike a guilty plea, a stipulated trial preserves a defendant's right to appeal.

Judge Charles French then sentenced Sipsey to six months at the Whatcom County Jail, provided he completes a sexual-deviancy course. If the course is not completed, French said Sipsey will have to spend 54 months in jail.

"I'm sorry and remorseful for my actions," Sipsey told the judge. "This was the stupidest thing I've ever done."

French told Sipsey that he shouldn't overlook the fact that his "behavior was manipulative and cruel to the child in this case."

Sipsey is forbidden from having any contact with the teen for five years and was told he cannot have any unsupervised contact with minors. He is allowed to be unsupervised around his two children.

According to a search-warrant affidavit, fellow teachers expressed concern about the amount of time Sipsey spent with the girl. One teacher said she advised him to "sever any ties" with her.

The Ferndale School District began investigating their relationship in April. Officials eventually asked for his resignation.

The teen's mother told French that it will take longer than six months for her family to recover from what happened. But she told Sipsey: "I forgive you for what you've done to my daughter."

Jennifer Sullivan: 425-783-0604 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com