EPHRATA — A former Warden substitute teacher who is accused of voyeurism was freed on bail last week after his bail amount reduced from $200,000 to $85,000.

Michael Leavitt, 53, of Warden, is currently facing two counts of voyeurism in Grant County Superior Court following a March 29 arrest in Warden. Leavitt’s defense attorney, Robert Schiffner, requested the bail be lowered to $85,000 from $200,000 during a hearing last week. The Grant County Prosecutor’s Office was in opposition to a bail reduction, but the request was ultimately granted by Judge John Antosz.

Included in court files is a receipt for $85,000 paid to the Grant County Clerk’s Office on May 1. Under the conditions of his release, Leavitt is not allowed to leave his residence without “being escorted” by his wife, mother or father. A tentative date of July 25 has been set for Leavitt’s case to head to trial.

At the time of his arrest Leavitt was a member of the Warden City Council, but Warden Mayor Tony Massa confirmed to the Columbia Basin Herald on Monday that Leavitt resigned from the council in mid-April following his arrest. Massa said the council is now looking at ways to fill the vacancy.

“We had discussed it the last council meeting, and we’re looking at the applicants from the last time we filled a vacant seat (in early April), and seeing if they are still interested,” Massa said.

Police first started investigating Leavitt in October 2017 after a young girl reported he held a cellphone under her dress at school. Leavitt was questioned by police a few days later and his phone was seized for evidence and transferred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s office in Spokane where an examination of the device was conducted. The examination reportedly led to the discovery of several videos on the device that appear to have been taken secretly of younger females, one of which was allegedly taken during the Warden Community Days celebration in September 2017.

Police also gathered information that indicates Leavitt deleted specific portions of his browsing history, including evidence of a website used to upload pictures and previous searches for child pornography. The WPD discovered that on the day he was interviewed by police Leavitt made an internet search in which he asked “is a search warrant required to look at a phone.”

A search warrant was obtained for Leavitt’s iCloud account and police discovered he had deleted several videos he made of the original victim. Another video was recovered that reportedly shows young girls bending over “the teacher’s table.” When Leavitt was arrested he reportedly admitted to filming the girls in the classroom and said he masturbated to the images.

Warden Police Department Chief Rick Martin previously told the Herald Leavitt started working as an emergency substitute in Warden in November 2016, but his time in the classroom was limited and he subbed a total of 12 times, many of which were reportedly half days. Martin also said there has been additional allegations made against Leavitt since his arrest.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.