A Columbia County judge has pulled the trial of former St. Helens High School choir teacher Eric Stearns out of his hometown courthouse and moved it to Washington County. Stearns is one of two educators arrested in late 2024; the other accused teacher, Mark Collins, has a separate venue motion still in front of the court. The transfer marks the latest turn in a saga that has rattled the close-knit river town, prompted school closures, and scrambled district leadership.
Judge Cites "Good Cause" To Move The Case
According to KPTV, court documents show a Columbia County Circuit Court judge found "good cause" earlier this month to move Stearns' trial from Columbia County to Washington County. As KPTV reports, the ruling followed defense motions arguing that pretrial publicity and strong local opinions could make it tough to find an impartial jury in Columbia County.
Arrests Followed Local Police Investigation
Stearns and Collins were arrested in November 2024 after detectives said an investigation, which began following tips and social media leads and that identified alleged victims, led to their cases, according to a St. Helens Police Department press release. The department said Stearns was taken into custody in the 400 block of North 16th Street and Collins in the 900 block of Port Avenue, and that the completed investigation was forwarded to the Columbia County District Attorney's Office.
District Leaders Deal With Fallout
Reporting by OPB says the arrests sparked student protests, temporary school closures, and loud calls for district leaders to step down. Several administrators were placed on paid leave and the school board chair resigned in the days following the arrests, OPB reported. A Columbia County grand jury later indicted St. Helens High School Principal Katy Wagner on charges tied to alleged failures to report abuse, according to KATU.
What A Venue Change Actually Does
Change of venue motions are a standard legal tool used to protect a defendant's rights when heavy publicity or local sentiment might taint the jury pool, the Legal Information Institute explains. Moving a case shifts where jurors are drawn from but does not alter the charges themselves. The goal is simple even if the process is not: keep the trial as fair as possible.
What Happens Next In The Case
According to KPTV, Collins has filed his own request for a venue change that remains pending, and court records do not yet list a new trial date for Stearns after the transfer. Stearns was ordered held without bail following a February 2025 hearing, and prosecutors have since added more counts as the investigation continued, KPTV reported.
