ST HELENS Hours. (KPTV) – The principal of St. Helens High School, dr. Katy Wagner, was arraigned Tuesday night on two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, two counts of first-degree official misconduct and two counts of second-degree official misconduct.

An Oregon state grand jury indicted Wagner on two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, a Class C felony, spanning November 2018 through November 2024. Alleging that she denied necessary and appropriate care to students, regarding Eric Stearns and Mark Collins, the two teachers accused of sexually abusing students. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and fines of up to $125,000.

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She is charged with two counts of official abuse in the first degree, a misdemeanor, from November 2018 to November 2024, for being a mandatory child abuse reporter and failing to report the child abuse, which created the risk of sex crimes against a vulnerable person. (s).

She is also charged with two counts of second-degree official misconduct from November 2019 to November 2024 for knowingly violating ORS 419B.010 by failing to comply with mandatory child abuse reporting requirements.

According to the Oregon Department of Justice, only three other people have been charged with second-degree official misconduct since 2017.

“Finally; it’s sad that the courts are forcing accountability, but it’s a start in the right direction,” said parent Tiffany Cooper. “It gives me hope that this time it will be handled properly and the children will feel safe again.”

Cooper was among the many parents in St. Helens who said they hope prosecutors will file additional charges in the coming days.

“The superintendent and some if not all of the board members,” Cooper said.

On November 15, Wagner was placed on administrative leavealong with the superintendent of the St. Helens amid pushback over the administration’s handling of a sexual abuse investigation involving two teachers.

One of the witnesses who testified before the grand jury was former St. Helens High School assistant principal from 2018 to 2020, Darcy Soto, who is now a Portland Public Schools administrator.

The St Helens Police Department said they would likely have a press release on Wednesday, but declined to comment.

The District of Columbia County Attorney’s Office did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

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