A University of Washington professor was fired last month for having sexual contact with a 17-year-old undergraduate student.
John Sahr was investigated in 2019, placed on home leave and prevented from contacting students, a university spokesman said Thursday. He remained on staff and with tenure until he was canned Nov. 12, 2020.
The student was a member of a young scholars program, which allowed students younger than traditional college age to enroll at the university. Sahr was in charge of the program from 2008 to 2010, when he initiated the illegal relationship.
Washington forwarded its evidence to King County prosecutors, but they declined to press charges, the Seattle Times reported. Prosecutors said the victim did not want to participate in their investigation and the statute of limitations had expired.
Years earlier, Sahr also had an inappropriate relationship with a graduate student that violated the university’s conflict of interest policies.
University spokesman Victor Balta said “no evidence that leads us to believe there are additional students, faculty or staff who were impacted by Sahr’s actions.”
