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A judge ruled yesterday that 47-year-old Eric Stearns, the former St. Helens High School choir teacher, will remain in custody without bail before his trial, determining that he poses a significant risk of “sexual victimization to the public.”
The decision followed an hour-long detention hearing, as reported by The Oregonian. Stearns faces multiple accusations of sexual abuse involving 16 different victims over the past decade. During the hearing, it was disclosed that the alleged victims include both current and former students, a teacher from the St. Helens School District, and a fellow church member. The ages of the victims range from 15 to individuals in their 20s.
Stearns has pleaded not guilty to a range of charges, including 24 counts of second-degree sexual abuse, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, and four counts of third-degree sexual abuse.
In court, the prosecuting attorney argued that Stearns specifically targeted vulnerable students—those from troubled backgrounds or those struggling academically. He allegedly gained their trust before repeatedly crossing personal boundaries with inappropriate physical contact.
