An Oregon high school principal is facing felony charges after allegedly ignoring sexual abuse against teenage girls by teachers at St. Helens High School. The teachers were accused of “grooming” their students over a nearly 10-year period.
Principal Katy Wagner has been charged with two counts of felony criminal mistreatment following the arrests of two teachers, Eric Stearns and Mark Collins, for their involvement in the sex crime spree, as reported by NBC 16.
Despite receiving complaints about Stearns and Collins as early as 2019, Wagner allegedly failed to inform law enforcement and allowed Stearns to remain in the classroom even after an investigation was launched.
Following the arrests of the teachers on November 12, parents and students protested near the school campus, accusing school and district officials of ignoring warning signs against the teachers’ inappropriate behavior.
The controversy began when former student Doug Weaver posted TikTok videos in September alleging a history of abuse at the school and accusing officials of protecting predatory teachers.
Current students came forward with their own experiences of inappropriate behavior, including stalking, lewd comments, and inappropriate touching by Stearns and Collins.
Stearns is accused of sexually abusing six underage girls between 2015 and 2024, while Collins faces allegations of abusing three students between 2017 and 2023.
Victims who spoke out against the teachers claimed they were ignored or even punished by Wagner and other officials.
At a school board meeting following the arrests, students questioned why action wasn’t taken sooner and expressed their concerns about the environment created by predatory teachers.
One student recounted her experiences of inappropriate behavior by Stearns, including hugging, kissing, and unwanted advances, which Wagner allegedly failed to address even after complaints were made.
Wagner has been indicted by Columbia County on charges of failing to report child abuse and provide proper care to students, in addition to facing misdemeanor charges of official misconduct.
The Department of Human Services is also investigating Wagner and Superintendent Scot Stockwell for their handling of the complaints, as reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
