Police in Washington arrested the principal of Oregon’s Rainier Junior/Senior High School Tuesday on multiple charges.
Jeremy Williams, 49, was booked in Washington state’s Cowlitz County Jail on charges of dealing and possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Jeremy Williams, left, appears virtually for his first court appearance on Sept. 17, 2025 in Kelso, Wash. The school principal is charged with possessing and distributing files depicting sexual abuse against minors.
Joni Land / OPB
Law enforcement officials said they became aware of the images on Aug. 28, after social media sites reported that pictures had been sent to and from a Longview, Washington, resident.
None of the images are of Rainier students, according to law enforcement.
Longview, in Southwest Washington, is across the Columbia River from Rainier, which is in Oregon’s Columbia County. The two towns are connected by a bridge.
According to the probable cause statement, 31 files found on William’s devices were flagged as containing child sexual abuse material.
The probable cause statement contains graphic descriptions of files, including one file that involved a 6-month-old child.
Williams admitted to police that the accounts in question were his and that he was “having ‘age based’ sexual role play on various platforms, including Discord,” according to the statement.
The outside of Rainier Junior/Senior High School in Rainier, Ore. on Sept. 17, 2025.
Joni Land / OPB
Williams made his first court appearance virtually in Cowlitz County on Wednesday.
Judge Patricia Fassett set Williams’ bail at $100,000 and ruled that he would not be allowed to have any contact with children ages 16 and under.
Asked if he was employed, Williams replied, “Not anymore.”
The Rainier School District had already placed Williams on paid administrative leave before the arrest for an unrelated event, according to law enforcement.
A note sent to parents and community members Wednesday afternoon said Williams was on leave after making comments “surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, Rainier Superintendent Chad Holloway said that students would be allowed to leave early with parental permission, if they wish.
“I know that this is extremely upsetting and concerning information,” Holloway wrote. “I am in the process of organizing additional counseling support for our students and staff and expect to have that in place soon.
“We are still processing this news, and will share information with you as we learn more.”
William’s next court appearance will be at 9 a.m. next Wednesday.
