Former Bothell High School teacher Calvin Pygott pled guilty Nov. 7 in Bothell Municipal Court to both misdemeanor charges he was facing as a result of the May incident in which he lied to Bothell Police about being attacked.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Pygott said in court, going on to apologize to the family, friends, colleagues and students affected by his actions.

He pled guilty to both charges filed by Bothell prosecutors in August, making a false or misleading statement to a public servant and obstructing public officers. Pygott was sentenced to pay more than $17,000 in court fees and restitution for the wasted resources devoted to the investigation of the attack he fabricated and 20 days of home detention, followed by 24 months of probation, which have the potential to be cut short if he pays the restitution before the 24 months are over.

“This is a just, fair result,” Raymond McFarland, Pygott’s attorney, told the Reporter. “Mr. Pygott accepts full responsibility and is deeply remorseful.”

Pygott, 63, worked at Bothell High School for decades and is also a Bothell High School graduate. He resigned last month.

In August, Bothell Police Department 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 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.

“At the time, it seemed to make sense in my clouded mind,” Pygott said in court on Nov. 7.

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.

Reporter John William Howard contributed to this report.