Judge postpones pretrial hearing for Monroe dance studio owner

Stanza Performing Arts Company co-owner Kristopher Allan Backman was back in a Snohomish County courtroom last week for a pretrial hearing that was pushed back until next month.

Backman, 32, was charged with child molestation in the second degree in Snohomish County Superior Court on July 20, after being arrested the day before at his Lewis Street dance studio. Backman’s arrest came after a seven-month investigation by the Monroe Police Department into allegations of sexual abuse by a student, who had been 14 at the time.

The mother and the victim, now 16, contacted Monroe Police in November to report the alleged abuse. Detectives contacted multiple witnesses, who described inappropriate conversations between Backman and students at the dance studio, according to court documents. Witnesses told police Backman regularly engaged in Cards Against Humanity with students, a game known for its mature content. The girls were asked to put the cards away if anybody walked in during the game, according to records.

The alleged victim described more than one incident during which Backman allegedly touched her inappropriately during a private dance lesson.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Backman had been investigated by the Redmond Police Department in 2008 for similar allegations. The King County Prosecutor’s Office declined to press charges at the time, because the alleged victim denied sexual contact. When contacted by Monroe detectives, the alleged victim said she is willing to come forward now to assist in the prosecution of the Monroe case.  

Backman opened Stanza with his wife in 2010.

He pleaded not guilty during his July 21 arraignment.

Backman’s pretrial omnibus hearing was scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 11, but the court proceeding was continued to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, when Backman’s lawyer, felony defense attorney John Crowley, could be present. 

Omnibus hearings are used when a plea of not guilty is entered, as in the case with Backman. It is a time to check that the case is moving forward and confirm the discovery process has been completed, which is the formal exchange of evidence to be presented at trial.

The trial is currently slated for Oct. 7.