The principal of an Oregon high school has been indicted by a grand jury after being accused of failing to protect her students from two teachers who have been arrested on sexual abuse charges, according to reports.
Katy Wagner was charged with two counts of criminal mistreatment and four counts of official misconduct stemming from the ongoing scandal, according to an indictment filed Tuesday and obtained by local news outlets.
The indictment, filed in Columbia County Circuit Court, asserts that Wagner “did unlawfully and knowingly withhold necessary and adequate physical care from the students of St. Helens High School.”
It comes following the arrest of one current and one former St. Helens High School teacher on sexual abuse charges.
Choir teacher Eric Stearns, 46, and Mark Collins, 64, were both detained following a two-month investigation launched by the St. Helens Police Department regarding allegations of sexual abuse at the school.
Stearns was subsequently indicted for seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse. Collins was indicted on two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse.
Both men have pleaded not guilty and are currently being held at the Columbia County Jail, police said.
According to a court document filed Tuesday, the grand jury indicted Wagner on two felony counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, two counts of first-degree official misconduct, misdemeanors, and two counts of second-degree official misconduct, which are also misdemeanors.
Wagner is accused of failing to comply with mandatory child abuse reporting requirements under state law and having “consciously disregarded the fact that the violation created a risk of the commission of a sex crime against a vulnerable person.”
She was placed on administrative leave, along with Superintendent Scot Stockwell, as of November 15.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dr Steve Webb, who has been appointed as acting superintendent, said: “I understand that the community of St. Helens is hurting, anxious, and, in many cases, angry. “Many of you are outraged that the system failed to protect this community’s children and that some adults allegedly failed to act when informed of misconduct.
“I want to echo the words of a St. Helens parent who recently spoke at a public meeting and whose comments were reported by the media: Families do not give us their students. They do not give us their children. They give us their babies. It is a sacred trust, and we have a moral obligation to honor it with reverence. That trust has been broken.
“The district has significant work ahead to repair relationships and rebuild trust. Healing this pain will take time, decisive action, transparent communication, and community engagement.”
Webb’s words echoed a statement released by staff members at St. Helen’s High School on November 15 that acknowledged the events had damaged trust in the school.
“Feelings of disappointment, betrayal, fear and shame around these events are affecting everyone – students, families, community members and staff alike,” the statement read. “To say the least, we are ALL struggling right now.”
“We are working right now. We are meeting, listening, asking so many questions, and trying to figure out a way forward that can bring this school together in the wake of a crisis that should never happen to any school. But it did.
“We want you to know that we are in this together. We, like you, are ready for change. The coming days, weeks, and months are not going to be easy. There is much repair and rebuilding of trust to be done.”
