ROGERS : Counseling a backdrop to woman’s allegations
Posted on Thursday, September 6, 2007
Paul M. Knutson was a popular science teacher in Arizona and a cocaine user when he fell in love with one of his students in 1983, according to police reports from the department that began investigating the Rogers High School teacher last year.
The former student was 16 years old and Knutson was 35 when police say the two began an affair that included sexual encounters in the science lab of the Scottsdale, Ariz., school where he was a teacher, in his car and at his home.
Knutson, 58, was arrested last week at his Little Flock home on a 13-count indictment that includes felony charges of sexual conduct with a minor and drug charges. He has taught physics in Rogers since 1995, and prior to that he taught in Anderson, Mo.
The woman told police she came forward after more than 20 years because she had recently entered drug therapy and counseling.
Authorities did not release the name of the former student or the witnesses who gave statements about the alleged affair and drug use. But the report indicates the school principal, Knutson’s ex-wife and two other teachers knew about the illicit behavior.
“Knutson claimed to be in love with the student and was not willing to end the relationship with her,” a Scottsdale detective wrote in a report after interviewing Knutson’s ex-wife.
The former student told police Knutson taught her how to “free base” cocaine and provided her with marijuana.
The accusations are out of character for a teacher who other former students and colleagues describe as a well-liked, dedicated educator with no history of disciplinary actions.
“He did a really good job here,” said Randy Smith, the superintendent of McDonald County R-1 School District in Missouri, who was the school principal when Knutson taught upper-level science from 1991-95. “Students really enjoyed his classes.”
Knutson, who is out of jail on bond while awaiting a scheduled extradition hearing Oct. 11 in Benton County Circuit Court, will not be allowed to return to the classroom pending the outcome of the case.
He is considered “absent” until the district determines how to proceed, said Rogers School District Superintendent Janie Darr.
“Obviously, these are very serious charges, but these are from 23 or 24 years ago,” Darr said. “We have never had any concerns raised about Mr. Knutson in the 11 years he has been here.
“ We did think it was prudent to take him out of the classroom.”
Rogers attorney James Lingle said Knutson is a good man with no prior arrests. He noted the student was 16 and 17 during the time she says the affair occurred and not a young child.
“People are acting like he’s a pedophile,” Lingle said. “Even if everything she said were true... we’re not talking about a pedophile.”
Knutson worked for the Scottsdale Unified School District from 1973 until 1984, but school officials said they no longer have his personnel file so it’s unclear the circumstances under which he left.
One witness told police Knutson made an “unplanned and rapid departure” from the school. Besides the sexual conduct charge, he faces two counts of possession and sale of marijuana, one count of possession and sale of dangerous drugs, one count of furnishing obscene or harmful items to minors and one count of possession and sale of a narcotic drug — all felonies. Knutson’s drug use and the affair with the student were known to several people, according to police reports. One witness who talked to police said he informed the student’s parents of the affair at the time but did not feel it was appropriate for him to go to police. The former student of Chaparral High School contacted police with the allegations in February 2006. An arrest warrant was issued last Thursday. In Arizona, there is no statute of limitations for certain sex crimes against children.
To contact this reporter: glaroe@arkansasonline. com
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
