The former Rainier Jr/Sr High School principal was released from Cowlitz County Jail Wednesday afternoon after his arrest for suspicion of having child sex abuse material.
Jeremy Peter Williams, 49, of Longview, made his first appearance in Cowlitz County Superior Court earlier Wednesday, and bail was set at $100,000.
Authorities say evidence does not indicate Rainier School District students were involved in the alleged crimes.
When Williams was arrested Tuesday, school district officials say he was already on administrative leave due to comments he made about the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Jail records show Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office deputies booked Williams at 4 p.m. on suspicion of dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Deputies seized his phones, computers and digital storage devices Tuesday with a search warrant at his Longview home, according to a sheriff’s office press release.
A Wednesday afternoon public notice from district superintendent Chad Holloway says Williams was on leave the day of his arrest due to comments about Kirk, but the details of those comments were not shared.
On Monday, Holloway told The Daily News he could not share details of the comments — including who made them — because they involved a personnel issue. He said the district aims to foster an environment where all students feel safe, supported and respected.
In his Wednesday afternoon statement, Holloway said more staff trained in crisis response will be at the school’s campus starting Thursday in light of Williams’ arrest.
Another public statement released earlier on Wednesday says law enforcement told Holloway about Williams’ arrest just that morning.
“The safety of our students is our highest priority,” he writes. “We are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation.”
Holloway did not return messages by deadline to answer further questions on Williams’ arrest and his work at the district.
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office detectives received a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Aug. 28, stating that social media sites reported multiple sexually explicit images being sent and received by accounts linked to a Longview resident.
Detectives’ investigation matched the accounts to Williams, the sheriff’s office press release states.
On Wednesday, prosecutors requested bail to be set at $200,000, but Judge Patricia Fassett opted for half the amount. Williams appeared in court virtually.
Williams told Fasset he needed a public defender when asked. She questioned if he was currently employed.
“Not anymore,” he replied.
While on bail, Williams is not permitted to have contact with anyone under the age of 16 and is barred from places where youth congregate. He also cannot access the internet.
Williams’ next hearing is set for Sept. 24.
