Former Damascus Elementary Principal Gets 43 Years For Sexual Abuse

OREGON CITY, OR — A former Damascus elementary school principal was sentenced Tuesday to 43 years plus one month in prison with no chance of parole.

Jeff Hays, the former principal of Deep Creek Elementary School, was sentenced by Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Katherine Weber.

Hays turned 68 on June 6, the day that he was convicted of one count of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and six counts of sexual abuse.

All of his victims were students, prosecutors said. The students said they attended Deep Creek Elementary School between 2005 and 2009, when Mays was the principal.

The school is part of the Gresham-Barlow School District, which has already paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlements to the victims, according to court records.

During the five-week trial, prosecutors presented nearly 100 pieces of evidence and called almost 60 witnesses, court records show.

Hays denied abusing anyone and, even after being convicted, never apologized for his actions, according to officials.