Arrests reveal Oregon public school administrators allegedly covered up sex abuse concerns 

An Oregon school board member has resigned, while a district superintendent and a principal are on leave after law enforcement says the district failed to notify them of sex abuse allegations.  

Law enforcement authorities in Columbia County, Oregon, say administrators at the St. Helens School District near Portland were told about the alleged sex abuse by two teachers, but did nothing, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.  

Police arrested a current choir teacher, Eric Stearns, and a retired math teacher, Mark Collins, after a two-month investigation.  

“After receiving reports of the alleged sexual abuse, St. Helens detectives immediately conducted interviews and obtained a subpoena for records related to the allegations,” said a statement by St. Helens Police. “Former student victims were identified and additional potential victims were also identified.” 

Stearns, 46, was indicted on seven counts of sexual abuse in the second degree and one count of sexual abuse in the third degree. Collins, 64, was indicted on two counts of sexual abuse in the second degree and one count of attempted sexual abuse in the second degree. He retired in 2022 after teaching six years in the district.

Sexual abuse of the second degree is a Class C felony in Oregon, which can result in up to five years in prison. Sexual abuse in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor, which can result in up to a year in jail.  

Parents, students and members of the community confronted the school board in a rancorous public meeting, video of which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children.  

“You guys and the teachers – they have normalized this behavior,” one parent told the school board. “You’re part of the grooming process. I hope you hear us. Because you didn’t hear our children.” 

“I am disgusted with you guys for letting him near me and my friends,” one student said, reported the Columbia County Spotlight.  

Another student in Stearn’s choir class expressed similar feelings.  

“I’m completely disgusted by him. My friends were crying because of what he did and they were shocked that we were allowed to be with him,” the student said.  

Parents were irate, especially those who felt district leadership had ignored red flags and dismissed student concerns.  

“We had police reports, and I went to the principal and she brushed it off like it was nothing!” said a mother of an alleged victim. “When is she going to be held accountable for her role and turning her head the other way is what I want to know.” 

Other parents and students expressed amazement that the school district allowed the allegations to go on for so long without suspension of the teachers or investigation. Some of the allegations date back to 2016, said one parent at the meeting.  

But some allegations are much more recent.  

“Two months this teacher was at the school in contact with minors and children…if you were aware of this situation, notified through police and investigators, why was he still allowed on school grounds?” asked another parent.  

In their defense, board chair Ryan Scholl and district Superintendent Scot Stockwell told the community that the district didn’t suspend Stearns because police advised it not to.  

As “part of the work and cooperation with the DA and law enforcement, the St. Helens School District was required not to disclose the existence of this investigation,” Stockwell told meeting attendees, according to local KTVL News 10.  

Scholl echoed Stockwell’s comments.  

“When the police informed them, they asked if he should be placed on admin[istrative] leave and law enforcement said ‘no.’ That’s why we did not place him on leave,” Scholl said, KTVL reported.  

But St. Helens Police Chief John Hogue said that’s not true.  

Speaking with local KATU News, Hogue said the allegations stretch back to 2019, and police would not be involved in personnel decisions with the school district in any event.  

“Most of these things happened four or five years ago,” Hogue said.  

He noted the investigation began because of a TikTok video from a former student.  

The video, talking about sex abuse at the school, resulted in tips from the video creator which were passed on to authorities in Oregon.  

“It alluded to a teacher at a high school, last name of Stearns, who was involved in some inappropriate behavior,” Hogue said, reported local media. “That initial post led to a bunch more interviews with people who were involved with the TikTok video or commenting on the TikTok video. That second name of Collins came up as well.” 

Rachel Armitage, a former state senator whose district included St. Helens, came to the meeting to express her disappointment.  

“In a school full of mandatory reporters, who are legally obligated to report abuse to the state, I would like to validate everyone here who is angry and demanding answers,” she said. “I want to know why this educator was allowed to cause harm to students for an additional eight years as well as apparently several others.”  

One parent warned the school board that the handling of the incident won’t be forgotten come election day.  

“Each and every single one of you needs to resign,” said the parent. “If you guys don’t step down, when you do come up for election, I’m going to be the loudest one out there talking about how you let this go down.”  

St. Helens high school students took matters into their own hands on Thursday, organizing a walk-out which is scheduled to last until Monday, Nov. 18.  

“I think people are going to listen, especially since students are getting so involved in it,” said Avlene Moore, a junior who organized the walkout. “I just wanted everyone to come together and just protest about what’s right and just make change in our community.” 

Christina Baumgardner, whose son participated in the walkout, said school district officials need to be fired.  

“I think everybody, the superintendent needs to be fired,” she explained. “The school district, they need a whole new school district. Dr. Wagner (St. Helens High School principal) needs to be fired. These kids need to be safe in this town, and they’re not in this school at all.” 

On Friday morning, the district announced that the high school principal had been placed on administrative leave, and the school board president had resigned. The remaining board members would also discuss whether to place the superintendent on leave.  

According to local reports, Stearns pled not guilty at a hearing on Wednesday. On the same day, Collins posted bail and was freed from custody.  

Their next court appearances are scheduled for Nov. 27 and Dec. 11, respectively. 

The City of St. Helens issued a statement on its website acknowledging the arrests and urging anyone with “concerns of sexual abuse involving children” to report it to state or local authorities.

“What has transpired is unacceptable,” it says. “We should all be angry. We must do better.”

Lion Staff Writer Jillian Schneider contributed to this report.