The U.S. Dept. of Education is investigating the Puyallup School District following the alleged assault. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office is also investigating.
PUYALLUP, Wash. — The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Puyallup School District after a high school athlete accused a transgender athlete of sexually assaulting her during a wrestling match in December 2025.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office also conducted a criminal investigation into the incident.
A wrestler from Rogers High School claims she was sexually assaulted during a wrestling match in December by a wrestler from Emerald Ridge High School.
“The Puyallup School District contacted our school resource officer at Rogers High School on January 30 and had stated there was a video that needed to be reviewed due to these allegations that were made,” said Deputy Carly Cappetto, with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The criminal investigation included interviews with the alleged victim and her mother, as well as video of the alleged assault. This week the sheriff's office referred a rape charge to the prosecutor’s office.
Cappetto said because of state law, it has not been able to interview the accused athlete. The law protects minors from police interrogations when they haven't talked to an attorney first.
“This is not a cut and dry case and that’s why everything we have done is as far as we can go in the investigation, so It's really going to be up to that prosecutor to make a decision on if they want to do any formal charges, if there is enough to prove a crime has happened,” said Cappetto.
On Friday the U.S. Department of Education announced it is investigating the Puyallup School District to see if leaders there didn't do enough when the allegations came to light. The department is also investigating whether the district violated the civil rights of female athletes by allowing trans athletes to participate in a female sport.
The alleged victim released a statement saying she is grateful for the federal and local investigations which she said came after two months of inaction by the Puyallup School District.
KING 5 reached out to the Puyallup School District for comment, but did not hear back.