A high school principal in St. Helens, Oregon, is facing felony charges after being indicted for allegedly failing to protect students from two teachers accused of sexual abuse, according to a local report published Tuesday.
Wagner has been charged with two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and two counts of first-degree official misconduct, along with other misdemeanors, KATU reported.
The charges stem from allegations involving choir teacher Eric Stearns, 46, and former teacher Mark Collins, 64, both of whom were arrested earlier in November for allegedly abusing students sexually. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Parents allege that district leaders, including Wagner, neglected their duty to report abuse concerns to authorities. Acting St. Helens Police Chief John Hogue told KATU that the district failed to notify police or child services about complaints made from 2019 to 2023.
Sarah Young, a district parent, expressed relief at the indictment, stating, “I believed that the detectives were doing a very good job. I love how proactive they’ve been.”
Jeremiah Harrington, another parent, shared, “My son told me six years ago about abuse that happened at the high school. I did not believe him. I am fighting for him, my daughters, and all the school kids. To my son, I am very sorry.”
BREAKING UPDATE: Oregon DHS has opened up an investigation into St. Helens principal Dr. Katy Wagner on allegations of neglect “due to failure to report child safety concerns.”
The school allowed a teacher to continue teaching while he was still under investigation for s*x… https://t.co/6DxjDKU7eV pic.twitter.com/SBznXLNw0k
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 21, 2024
The district placed Wagner and the superintendent on administrative leave Nov. 15. At a school board meeting, Chair Ryan Scholl claimed law enforcement advised them against removing Stearns from the classroom during the investigation. Chief Hogue refuted this, telling KATU, that they were not notified of the abuse. (RELATED: Former Elementary School Teacher Gets Probation After Being Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 4th Graders)
“In fact, the detectives found information that complaints had been made of the school going back to 2019 and all the way through 2023. And we weren’t notified, and neither was DHS,” he said.
Community members are calling for change. Former student Cheyenne Leite said, “Enough is enough. Students shouldn’t go to school scared that they’re going to be hurt by someone that parents trust their students to be with.”
The school district referred to Wagner’s indictment and arrest as “deeply troubling news for our district and community” and indicated that “this is a difficult day for St. Helens High School,” in a written statement to the Daily Caller.
“We have launched an independent, third-party investigation to thoroughly and impartially determine what occurred and why. Findings and recommendations will be shared with the community, with the final report expected 45 to 60 days after the investigation begins. This timeline is subject to change based on what is learned through the investigation. The district is committed to taking corrective action,” the statement reads.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
