PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A 46-year-old St. Helens High School teacher was arrested again on additional sex abuse charges as part of an ongoing investigation in Columbia County.
Eric Stearns was arrested Saturday on 11 more sex abuse charges, a little less than two months after he was initially charged with eight sex abuse charges. His arrest followed another grand jury indictment on Thursday for one count in the first-degree, six counts in the second-degree and four counts in the third-degree.
Following his initial arrest in November, investigators released information about the case and asked for anyone with more information to come forward. Since that time, officials said, another eight victims were identified.
Stearns remains in the Columbia County Jail.
The case is ongoing and if anyone has more information, they're asked to contact St. Helens Detectives Edwards and Smith at 503.397.1521.
When Stearns was first arrested, Mark Collins was also arrested. Collins, 64, who is a retired St. Helens High School teacher, was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse.
A little later in November, St. Helens High School principal Katy Wagner was arrested after turning herself in on criminal mistreatment and official misconduct charges. Wagner was initially put on leave on Nov. 15, Wagner was under investigation for failing to report safety concerns amidst the sexual abuse allegations at the school, authorities said.
A Columbia County grand jury indicted Wagner for two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, two counts of first-degree official misconduct, and two counts of second-degree official misconduct. The two criminal mistreatment charges are Class C felonies, according to court records. Wagner pleaded not guilty to the six charges and was released on bail.
Superintendent Scot Stockwell was also placed on leave. Since November, five more staff members have been placed on leave — two as a result of reports to the Oregon Department of Human Services or the child abuse hotline and three due to internal reports. Additionally, the former Board Chair Ryan Scholl resigned weeks following the initial sex abuse accusations.
KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.
