The Bothell High School shop teacher who faked an attack after school last May is now facing two charges in relation to the incident.

The city’s prosecutor filed charges against Calvin Pygott for making a false or misleading statement to a public servant and obstructing public officers in Bothell Municipal Court on Friday. Both charges are gross misdemeanors but each carry the potential for 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

The charges come after the Prosecutor’s Office received the final police report on the investigation and recommendation of charges.

“Significant government resources were used investigating the alleged attack, not only by the city of Bothell but also by the state crime lab, although exact costs are unknown at this time,” city officials stated in a release.

The charges come just weeks after interviews with Pygott were released to the media where he tells investigators he was actually attempting suicide because of debt and to save his legacy.

After failing a polygraph test, Pygott, 63, came clean to Bothell police detectives about what actually happened in his shop class last spring.

“I put a zip tie around my neck, hit myself on the head with a hammer three or four times, was on the floor, got up realized I wanted to live,” Pygott told investigators during the three hour interview.

He said he made up the story to try and save his reputation.

“If it somehow looked like it was not me, the legacy, the integrity, and everything else would stay intact,” Pygott said.

Pygott originally told investigators he was attacked from behind. He said he was hit on the head in his wood shop classroom with an object and then the attacker put the zip tie around his neck and left him to die.

But in reality, Pygott had done it to himself because he says he has financial trouble and didn’t want to saddle his family with the burden.

“(If you have) a mountain of debt, you’re worth more dead than you are alive,” Pygott said.

Pygott, who has worked at Bothell High School for decades, is also a Bothell High School graduate.

The long-time teacher remains on paid administrative leave, pending a decision by Northshore School District (NSD) administration – and that’s it, despite numerous media reports to the contrary.

Stories first appeared in the Seattle Times and then in wire reports by the Associated Press, stating the district had filed a “complaint” against Pygott. The “complaint” filed with the Office of Professional Practices is simply a letter summarizing what NSD learned from Bothell police.

The district is following procedure and officials stressed that the report isn’t a complaint or an accusation.

“When we believe that a violation of the Code of Professional Practices may have occurred, we are required to file a report with the Office of Professional Practices with [the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction],” district spokesperson Casey Henry said. “It’s the district’s professional obligation to file the report, and it’s up to the OPP to determine whether to investigate.”

District officials haven’t offered a timeline on when the district investigation of Pygott will be complete, or what disciplinary options are on the table.

District Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid said the news of an attempted suicide had no impact on the district’s timeline of a decision.

A district spokesperson said the NSD couldn’t release performance reviews except for letters of reprimand, none of which exist in Pygott’s file.

Pygott’s arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 20 at Bothell Municipal Court, 10116 NE 183rd Street.

Reporter John William Howard contributed to this report.