St. Helens indefinitely pauses sex abuse report

ST. HELENS, Ore. (KOIN) — A highly anticipated investigative report into allegations of sexual abuse within the St. Helens School District is now on pause indefinitely.

The district launched a third-party investigation December 2, 2024 after multiple charges of alleged sex abuse were brought against high school choir teacher Eric Stearns and former teacher Mark Collins.

Additionally, criminal charges were lodged against St. Helens High School Principal Dr. Katy Wagner, who stands accused of failing to protect students. The district claims 10 staff members remain on leave due to the ongoing investigations.

KOIN 6 News previous coverage: St. Helens School District sex abuse

Despite initially stating the findings would be made public within 60 days, on January 31, 2025 a spokesperson for the district explained results would be delayed by two-to-three weeks.

However, after KOIN 6 News pressed for a status update it appears parents will have to wait for answers a while longer as the district braces for potential legal trouble.

“After the start of the investigative report, the district received litigation claims, and thus, we are unable to release the report,” wrote Acting Superintendent Dr. Karen Gray in an email Monday. “The report needs to remain attorney-client privileged for now.”

Parents with students in the district shared their response to the news.

“I wish I could say I’m shocked, but I’m not,” said Sarah Young.

Another parent, Jenni Gilbert told KOIN 6 News, “Until we have answers of who was responsible we just can’t relax, we don’t know.”

While it is unclear how many notices of potential legal action were sent to the district and when, one of the attorneys representing alleged student victims tells KOIN 6 News he finds it difficult to believe the notices would have come as a surprise to the district.

“Our clients faced various types of sexual abuse at the hands of individuals who were employed by St Helens School District,” said attorney Peter Janci who represents seven victims. “We believe the evidence will show that individuals who were on staff with the district knew, or should have known, about the danger of that abuse.”

Janci explained that while his clients are focused on the criminal cases, because Oregon law gives victims who are abused in public settings a short window to submit a tort claims notice, five were filed on behalf of his clients between late January and early February.

He argues this was done to preserve their rights to sue at a later date if evidence shows others enabled the abuse. He also maintains the notices are not the reason the district is not releasing the report.

“While Oregon law requires that our clients who are victims submit such notices, there’s nothing in the statute or Oregon law that prevents the district from releasing the type of report that they’ve been talking about,” He added. “That’s not required. That’s a choice by the district.”

When asked why the district continued to say they would release the report findings after some of the notices were received Dr. Grey told KOIN 6 News her attorney said the District consistently evaluates its legal position. She shared his response below:

“The report was compiled in preparation for litigation, claims have been made against the District, and the District is maintaining the privileged nature of the report.”

However, parents told KOIN 6 News they wished the district would prioritize protecting students over protecting the district’s interests.

“They can probably stand on that, but they shouldn’t,” said Gilbert. “It’s so important to the community that they release this investigation, to start giving answers and healing.”

“The district really lost the right to protecting themselves when they didn’t protect our children,” Young added.