A former Oregon high school principal already removed from his position over remarks tied to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been handed a federal prison sentence — this time for possessing child sexual abuse material.
Jeremy Peter Williams, 50, of Longview, Washington, received a sentence of 61 months in prison on February 23 from Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Thad Scudder.
Williams pleaded guilty on January 12 to the charges against him.
Prosecutors confirmed Williams must register as a sex offender and serve three years of supervised release following his time behind bars.
Judge Scudder’s sentence also carries $3,000 in court fees.
Williams is required to register as a sex offender for the next 15 years.
Williams had served as principal of Rainier Junior/Senior High School in Rainier, Oregon. He earned $99,500 annually in that role, a position he held for roughly a decade. Prior to becoming principal, he worked as a teacher in the Rainier School District for 13 years.
The Rainier School District enrolls fewer than 800 students, according to state data.
The Washington Times reported that the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children issued multiple referrals in August, flagging accounts linked to Williams on platforms that were trafficking child sexual abuse material.
Detectives executed a search warrant at his home, seizing phones, computers, and other devices.
Williams told investigators that he used his social media accounts to engage in “age-based” sexual role play. Court documents state that Williams told investigators he received and sent child sexual abuse material during those conversations.
According to the pre-sentencing investigation report, Williams told authorities he sought online communities to make connections through writing erotic short stories featuring children, which eventually led to sharing explicit images of minors.
According to the probable cause statement, 31 files found on Williams’ 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.
Before the criminal arrest, district leadership was already managing fallout over Williams’ conduct.
Rainier School District Superintendent Chad Holloway confirmed Williams’ leave in a letter to the community on September 17, 2025, writing that “Mr. Williams was placed on administrative leave regarding comments made surrounding the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
In a message to families, Superintendent Holloway said the district was aware of “concerns… following a recent comment by an employee… regarding Charlie Kirk,” calling the activist’s killing “deeply unsettling” and acknowledging the impact on students and staff.
Following Williams’ arrest, Holloway issued a second letter to families.
He described “very disturbing” developments after learning of Williams’ arrest on charges involving depictions of minors in sexually explicit conduct.
He emphasized that the district was working closely with law enforcement and taking steps to support students, including making counselors available and allowing early dismissal for families who felt it was needed.
“The safety of our students is our highest priority,” Holloway wrote.
Cowlitz County Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill said authorities found no evidence that any students from Williams’ school were involved in the material.
Williams was arrested in September 2025 and booked into the Cowlitz County Jail.
At his sentencing hearing, Williams gave a softly spoken short apology. He was wearing a light cream sweater and blue jeans and sat quietly near the back of the courtroom waiting to be taken into custody.
