Community Education Police & Fire
Trial of former teacher accused of child molestation begins
The jury trial of Jordan Roy Henderson, a former Peninsula School District teacher facing 12 counts of first-degree child molestation, is underway in Pierce County Superior Court.
Henderson, 36, is accused of sexually assaulting four girls who were fourth- and fifth-grade students in his classes at Evergreen Elementary. The abuse allegedly occurred over a period spanning two school years, starting in 2022. Henderson pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Henderson “adamantly denies he engaged in any misconduct with any minor child,” according to a court document filed Dec. 1, 2025, by his defense attorney, Brett Purtzer of Hester Law Group.
Jordan Roy Henderson in court. Photo courtesy of Pfau, Cochran, Vertetis Amala PLLC.
The trial began Dec. 2 in the courtroom of Judge Alicia Marie Burton. Witnesses testifying last week included Stacey Lawrence, a child forensic investigator with the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, according to The News Tribune newspaper of Tacoma. A probable cause statement that led to Henderson’s arrest in April 2024 details Lawrence’s interviews with the students. One of the students, now 12, also testified, the TNT reported on Dec. 10.
Accusations surface
The district placed Henderson on administrative leave in February 2024, after learning of allegations reported by a student. Peninsula School District disclosed that he was on leave in mid-March.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested him on April 18, 2024, and prosecutors charged him with nine counts of first-degree child molestation involving three students.
Another student came forward with allegations against Henderson in June 2024, resulting in three additional charges of first-degree child molestation.
In court documents, the students allege that Henderson touched them on the buttocks, thighs, chest and “privates.” Prosecutors say Henderson showed a pattern of predatory behavior. Henderson denied the allegations.
Henderson resigned his position with Peninsula School District and no longer works in education, according to Purtzer’s filing. The defendant, through his attorney, asked the court to exclude mention of his employment status during the trial.
Jordan Roy Henderson
On house arrest
Henderson in April posted $100,000 bail and was placed on house arrest. He was jailed again briefly in June 2024 after violating conditions of his parole by holding gatherings at his home with minors present. He was released on house arrest again with his bail increased to $750,000.
Prosecutors said the higher bail was warranted because, in addition to the parole violation, they found pornography on Henderson’s devices during their investigation, court documents show. One of the computers had child pornography images dating back to 2017, according to documents. Henderson, through his attorney, has requested the court to exclude this information from admissible evidence at the trial.
“Such evidence is tremendously prejudicial and would deny Mr. Henderson the right to a fair trial,” Purtzer says.
Career and family
Henderson and his wife, Katie, have been married for 13 years, according to Purtzer’s Dec. 1 filing. They have four children, ages 8 to 1. Henderson began his teaching career in 2012 at Minter Creek Elementary School in Peninsula School District. He obtained a master’s in education in 2020 and an MBA in 2025.
Henderson started teaching at Evergreen Elementary in 2015 and worked there until he was placed on leave in February 2024. He taught third grade there for one year, a fourth/fifth grade split class for one year and the remainder teaching a fifth-grade class.
Henderson has been a deacon at Wellspring Fellowship church in Lakebay, where his father is the lead pastor.
Seeking ‘accountability’
The students and their families, represented by Hastings with the firm Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, sued Peninsula School District in June 2024, alleging the district displayed “gross negligence” by failing to stop the abuse. Hasting said the district received reports that Henderson had molested students well before his arrest.
“The trial of Jordan Henderson is an important step toward accountability for shattering the lives of families and their trust in our institutions,” said Kevin Hastings, representing the students and their families in the civil suit, in a statement to Gig Harbor Now. “The young girls who will be holding Jordan accountable at trial should be celebrated for their courage and determination: They stand not alone but together in making our community be safer with the truth of Jordan Henderson being exposed.”
Peninsula School District will not comment on cases currently under litigation.
No separate trials
On Nov. 18, the court denied the defendant’s motion to sever the counts into four separate trials. Court documents filed by Purtzer on Henderson’s behalf said testimony by the students in a single trial could prejudice a jury against him. The state argued that the threshold for prejudice wasn’t met. Judge Susan B. Adams denied the motion, allowing the trial to move forward.
