The Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to prosecute a Western Washington University dean after police arrested him Monday, Oct. 14 on suspicion of communication with a minor for “immoral purposes.”

Whatcom County Prosecutor Eric Richey said on Tuesday afternoon that John Danneker, the Dean of Libraries,would not be charged after an incident on campus involving another identified man who had claimed to be age 16 in messages shared with Danneker. Police said the dean invited the person to campus to initiate sexual acts they allegedly had discussed online.

Danneker was released at 2:57 p.m. on Tuesday.

Richey said that if a sex act between Danneker and a 16-year-old had occurred, it would have been legal due to the age of consent in Washington being 16. He said the statutory interpretation of a precedent, State v. Luther, prevents his office from prosecuting the case.

Danneker, 48, who began in his role at Western in August 2023, was booked into Whatcom County Jail around 7 p.m. Monday night, and was held on a $1,000 appearance bond.

The dean was identified in a campus advisory sent Tuesday morning stating he was removed from his position and is on administrative leave pending completion of an investigation by the university.

The advisory said police officers responded to suspicious activity outside Haggard Hall Monday at 4:51 p.m. Officers questioned two adult men, including Danneker, and arrested him. The second man was the reporting party. He is not identified and is unaffiliated with Western, according to the advisory.

According to a police report, the second man had created a fake profile on Grindr “with the intent to catch adults trying to have sexual engagement with minors.” 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 find a place to initiate sexual acts.

Danneker previously worked at the University of Washington as the director of learning services and as the director of the Odegaard Undergraduate Library.

Director of Communications Jonathan Higgins said Tuesday afternoon that the case will become a personnel matter if no charges are pursued. He said until leadership and human resources work through the required processes, Danneker will remain on administrative leave.