A Western Washington University dean, who was arrested but not charged with any crime last week, is no longer employed at the university, an official confirmed Monday, Oct. 21.
John Danneker’s last day was Friday, Oct. 18, said Director of Communications Jonathan Higgins. Danneker began working at the university as Dean of Libraries in summer 2023, and was placed on administrative leave and removed as dean after his arrest on Oct. 14.
The prosecutor declined to file charges against Danneker, 48. The dean was identified in a campus advisory sent Oct. 15.
Police reports show Danneker was arrested by university police after they responded to suspicious activity outside Haggard Hall. The man who reported the incident had created a fake profile on Grindr “with the intent to catch adults trying to have sexual engagement with minors,” according to a police report. Screenshots in the police report indicate the man told Danneker online that he was 16, and Danneker said he was “cool to meet” and invited the other man to Western to allegedly find a place to initiate sexual acts.
Prosecutor Eric Richey told CDN that Danneker would not be charged because the legal age of consent in Washington is 16, and the fact that the second man was posing as a 16-year-old, but not actually 16, “added difficulty” in proving the case.
Danneker did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
