Jury acquits Highline teacher accused of child rape Woman cleared after 1 day of jury deliberation

Darcy Smith, pictured in a Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction photo. Darcy Smith, pictured in a Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction photo. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Jury acquits Highline teacher accused of child rape 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A King County jury has acquitted a Highline teacher accused of sexual misconduct with a former student.

Empaneled since February to judge teacher Darcy Smith, the jury returned its verdict after one day of deliberation. Smith was acquitted on all counts.

Smith, 42, had been accused of having sex with a former student who was living in her home. She was charged with third-degree child rape, a crime once known as statutory rape.

Responding to the verdict, defense attorney Brad Meryhew said his client will now begin the hard work of rebuilding her reputation. Smith’s supporters, gathered at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent for the verdict, hugged and celebrated after it was returned just before noon Thursday.

“Darcy and her family want to thank all of those former students, colleagues, and friends who have expressed their unwavering support and belief in her innocence throughout a difficult time,” Meryhew said.

King County prosecutors charged Smith in February 2015 with child rape claiming she had sex with a boy living in her home more than five years before. The allegations derailed what had been a remarkable career for Smith, a 15-year veteran teacher who had been teaching sixth grade at McMicken Heights Elementary when the allegations surfaced.

Smith has been on administrative leave since August 2014. Highline School District spokeswoman Catherine Carbone Rogers said the district will now complete a review, which was preempted by the police investigation and court proceedings.

"We have not had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Smith since this process began, and that will be our next step" Carbone Rogers said by email.

Meryhew said his client and her supporters were vindicated by the jury’s verdict.

“This unanimous verdict by a jury of her peers allows Mrs. Smith and her friends and family to begin the process of restoring the reputation she build over the last 15 years as an award-winning teacher dedicated to helping students and families,” the defense attorney said.

Prosecutor's Office spokesman Dan Donohoe praised the jurors.

"The jury gave this case careful consideration and we respect the decision of the jury," Donohoe said by email.

Thursday’s acquittal ends a prosecution that would’ve seen Smith forced to register as a sex offender. Smith had not been jailed.

CORRECTION: Defense attorney Brad Meryhew's last name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story.

Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.