PORT ANGELES — Stevens Middle School math teacher Paul A. Brinkmann’s trial on 10 counts of child rape and molestation has been moved from June 4 to Sept. 10.
Brinkmann, a Port Angeles School District teacher for 20 years who is now on sick leave, could be sentenced to up to 280 months — 23.3 years — if found guilty and could be under community supervision for the rest of his life, according to sex-offender scores calculated by Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood changed the date for the trial at the request of Brinkmann’s lawyer, Karen Unger of Port Angeles, who needs more time to prepare her case, according to Wood’s order continuing the trial.
Unger said she needed to obtain state Department of Social and Health Services records, according to minutes of the hearing.
She also asked that Brinkmann, 46, of Port Angeles, have bail imposed in place of the requirement that he be on electronic home monitoring, which restricts his movements.
Wood said he needs a list of conditions for the bail before he will consider setting a bail amount, according to court minutes.
Brinkmann pleaded not guilty to the charges March 7.
They include two counts of child molestation and eight counts of child rape, including second-degree rape by forcible compulsion, all allegedly involving a boy who is now 16.
Brinkmann’s potential prison time, if convicted, was contained in Lundwall’s April 16 plea offer to Brinkmann that was set to expire earlier this month.
Lundwall would not comment on the offer, which Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said this week is still open.
Unger could not be reached for comment.
The conditions of Brinkmann’s release include his not having contact with anyone under 18 years old.
Brinkmann, who earns $62,955 a year in salary, is on sick leave, Port Angeles Schools Superintendent Jane Pryne said this week.
“His last day in the building was March 2,” she said.
“We have a counselor at the middle school, so if students need to talk to a counselor, they could talk to her,” Pryne said.
“We have similar counselor support for the staff. We’re just keeping life as normal as possible for students so their education could continue.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
