Salem-Area Catholic School Vice Principal Arrested On Charges Of Sexually Abusing Student At School Between 2021 And 2023

Former Vice Principal Of Regis St. Mary Catholic School Arrested

On Monday, July 14, the former vice principal of Regis St. Mary Catholic School (in Stayton, OR) was arrested on accusations of sexual abuse. He was indicted by a grand jury the following day on four counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration.

The alleged perpetrator is Christopher Seibert, age 56. According to media reports, Seibert has a wife and four children and has been working in education for thirty years. He began teaching in 1994, working as a third-grade teacher at a public school in California. Since then, he has held various positions, including teacher, counselor, and principal.

Seibert was hired as the vice principal at Regis St. Mary Catholic School in 2021. Regis St. Mary is a private pre-K through 12th-grade Catholic school in Stayton, Oregon. Media repots indicate that it was is during Seibert’s time at Regis St. Mary that the abuse leading to his arrest is alleged to have occurred. However, the date and circumstances of Seibert’s departure from Regis St. Mary are unknown. Seibert began working at St. Joseph Catholic School in Salem, Oregon, starting in 2023. After working as a fifth-grade teacher for one year, he became principal for the 2024-2025 school year.

Seibert is accused of sexually abusing a student at Regis St. Mary Catholic School between April 2021 and April 2023. Seibert allegedly subjected the girl, who was reportedly under the age of 14 at the time, to sexual contact or penetration on at least five occasions – some of which reportedly happened on campus at Regis St. Mary. At Seibert’s arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Caitlin Spencer explained that Seibert would pull the student out of class, take her to his office, and put his hand under her skirt or blouse. During the last incident, Seibert allegedly penetrated the student before she ran out of his office.

In response to these allegations, media reports indicate that Seibert was put on administrative leave from St. Joseph in December 2024 by the pastor of St. Joseph Catholic School (Jeff Meeuwsen). In a school-wide statement, Meeuwsen said, “I believe [Seibert] served St. Joseph faithfully, but we only know what is revealed…This has been a long and frustrating process for me, too.” Both St. Joseph and Regis St. Mary schools were cooperative in the investigation into Seibert.

The investigation was conducted by the Stayton Police Department, Department of Human Services, Liberty House, and Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrest, Seibert was booked into Marion County Correctional Facility and arraigned at Marion County Court Annex. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

Police indicated a concern about the likelihood of other victims, based on Seibert’s many other past roles as an educator and extensive access to minors.

News reports indicate that victim-student was unable to bring herself to make a statement at Seibert’s arraignment, but her mother made a brief statement, asking the judge to deny Seibert bail. The court ultimately set bail at $250,000 and ordered that Seibert have no contact with the victim or any other child.

Crew Janci LLP is a law firm dedicated to helping victims of child sexual abuse in cases against large institutions – including schools, churches, and other youth serving organizations. These cases help provide justice to victims and hold organizations accountable for enabling perpetrators. Our attorneys have a proven track record and over 20 years of experiences in representing abuse victims, including in cases against the Catholic Church and recently obtaining the largest ever settlement in Oregon history for a school abuse victim.

You are not alone. We are here to help. Crew Janci LLP.

If you or someone you care about has been subject to sexual abuse or exploitation by a trusted teacher or other adult, contact us confidentially by chatting us on our website, using our confidential submission form, or calling us at 1-888-407-0224.

Ongoing News Coverage

• • Former Regis Catholic school vice principal charged with sex abuse (Salem Statesman Journal)

• • Former vice principal arrested on sex abuse charges (KATU Portland)

• • Former vice principal in Stayton arrested, indicted for sex abuse (KGW-TV Portland)