PORTLAND, Ore. (COIN) – A total of six employees in St. Helen’s school district is under investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services in an ongoing sexual assault scandal involving students as well as allegations that school administrators have turned a blind eye to these crimes.

Since the first of these allegations was made public in mid-November, the community of St. Helens — including parents, students and school staff — rallied against what they allege is the district’s failure to protect its vulnerable students.

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Below is a timeline of events, from the first reported cases of abuse to the current status of the investigation.

2015

Eric Stearns, a driving instructor, and Mark Collins, who recently retired from teaching at the high school, have been accused of sexually assaulting nine students on campus for several years, according to court documents.

The first allegations of sexual abuse at St. Helens High School was registered in 2015, according to police.

Court documents allege Stearns, 46, inappropriately touched six students while Collins, 64, assaulted two students and attempted to inappropriately touch another between the years of 2015 and 2023.

November 2023

Before he retired, Collins briefly worked as a substitute teacher at Scappoose High School for seven days between October 30, 2023 and February 9, 2024, according to Scappoose officials. He had not been under investigation during this period.

A week after news broke that Collins had been named in the St. Helens investigation, one student concluded report an incident from November 13, 2023, where “some students heard what they interpreted as pornography being played on an electronic device where Mr. Collins was seated.”

More students were interviewed to share their experiences, and the district said it immediately notified St. Helen’s Police Department.

September 2024

St. Helens police first began their two-month investigation into the school’s sexual abuse allegations in September.

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

November 12, 2024

Following the investigation, Stearns was charged with seven counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree sexual assault, and Collins was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of attempted second-degree sexual assault.

Both men were booked into the Columbia County Jail Tuesday, November 12. Collins posted $50,000 bail.

November 13, 2024

Stearns appeared virtually in Columbia County Court to plead not guilty to all counts on Wednesday, November 13th.

That night, hundreds of parents attended a school board meeting to ask why they were not told about the two-month investigation and why the school had not placed the driving instructor on leave during this time.

According to district board chairman Ryan Scholl, school administrators had asked police if Stearns would be placed on administrative leave, claiming “law enforcement said no.”

But Scholl’s claim during a school board meeting was later contradicted by Superintendent Joseph Hogue who checked the body camera footage when officials served the subpoena, telling KOIN 6 News that “at no time did the officials tell the school district or advise the school district in any way not to put the teacher on administrative leave. “

November 14, 2024

A protest involving parents, students and community members at St. Helens High School and district offices led the school to close its doors early on Thursday, November 14 and remain closed through the following Monday. The demonstrations continued for two days.

That same day, Collins pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in Columbia County Court.

November 15, 2024

The St Helens School District announced in a Facebook post on Friday, November 15 that high school Principal Katy Wagner and district Superintendent Scot Stockwell had been placed on administrative leave.

In the same post, officials also announced that School Board President Ryan Scholl had resigned from his position. The district added that, in the absence of a board chair, the role was left to vice chair Trinity Monahan.

As the protests continued, some community members called the move to place the leaders on administrative duty a step in the right direction. Others demanded more action from the remaining board members.

November 21, 2024

The following Thursday, November 21, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) announced that Principal Katy Wagner was under investigation for allegedly failed to report security concerns to law enforcement.

Chief Hogue said that St. Helen’s Police Department was not made aware of incidents that had been recorded by the school since 2019, despite the school having a legal obligation to notify law enforcement.

“They are mandated reporters at the school, of course, so they are required to either notify us or the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division,” Hogue said.

On the same day, the police also announced an investigation into “criminal conduct” involving a teacher at St. Helen’s Middle School after a report claimed the teacher had engaged in alleged “offensive physical contact” with students.

November 22, 2024

The ODHS announced this on Friday morning two more St. Helen’s High School staff were also investigated on allegations of sex abusealthough they have not yet been named in a criminal investigation by St. Helen’s Police.

The State Department also said Superintendent Stockwell is under investigation for failing to report child safety concerns.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek shared one letter with the city of St. Helens in response to the ongoing situation, adding that she “takes this matter very seriously and I offer my sincere condolences for the current situation facing your community, including the trust that has been broken by the lack of transparency and immediate response to the allegations of district management.”

What happens next?

At the time of this article’s publication, two teachers—Eric Stearns and Mark Collins—are accused of sexual assault at St. Helens High School campus, and a teacher in St. Helens Middle School is under criminal investigation for “offensive physical contact” with a student.

Meanwhile, ODHS has launched six investigations into the St. Helens school district, including additional allegations of abuse and allegations that mandatory reporters failed to do their duty.

The administration at St Helens High School has received mandatory reporting trainingand Kotek said staff at both the middle and elementary schools will also receive the training.

St. Helens police said their investigations have also led them to more potential victims in the area. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

If an interim director of St. Helen’s school district is not appointed within 14 days, the state will make a recommendation for the position.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story continues to develop.

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