ARLINGTON, Wash. -- The principal of a private school in Arlington has been charged with third-degree rape.

Prosecutors say Mark Brown, head of the 230-student Highlands Christian School, was harboring a 14-year-old runaway student and gave her alcohol and had sexually molested her.

Brown, 37, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Snohomish County Superior Court.

The police investigation began in June when the girl's parents reported her as a runaway. Detectives then that the girl and Brown exchanged hundreds of text messages. In the messages, Brown discussed helping her run away from home, prosecutors said.

In one text message, he allegedly asked: 'What do I get out of it?'

According to court documents, Brown helped the girl run away and he converted a seldom-used third floor room at the school into a home for the girl. It was there that Brown allegedly gave her rum and sexually molested her.

Earlier this week, the girl told detectives what happened. Brown was arrested and arraigned Wednesday, and Judge Eric Lucas set bail at $100,000.

Brown told KOMO News the girl broke into the school with the help of a senior boy. He also claimed the only time he ever saw the girl at the school was in the presence of another staff member.

Brown said he had suspended the student on two different occasions and had contacted Child Protective Services regarding her troubled relationship with her family. But he said he never spent time with her alone and, more importantly, never touched her.

As for the incriminating text messages, Brown said he sent the girl a message in which he allegedly asked 'What do I get out of it?' because he was trying to make a deal with her to keep her from running away.

Members of the Highland Christian School board went to court to show their support for the principal.

"The Board and the faculty of Highlands Christian School stand behind Mark Brown," said school board member Kristin Sande. "He is on administrative leave until this can be worked out."

Members of the school say they have been advised by the school attorney not to comment. Several parents of students at the school said they believed Brown's denials.

Several of Brown's neighbors said the news is very upsetting.

"We're very tight with our neighbors and for somebody, certainly, to have this brought amongst them has certainly turned our neighborhood upside down," said Jim Barratto. "There are two sides of every story and certainly we hope Mark's gets to come out."