Longview Public Schools Superintendent Karen Cloninger has been arrested after investigators accused district leadership of trying to keep allegations of sexual abuse and hazing at Mark Morris High School quiet.
Cloninger was taken into custody Thursday morning by the Longview Police Department and faces charges including felony witness tampering, failure to report child abuse, and obstructing a law enforcement officer. Police also say additional charges are expected against Andrew Schoonover, the district’s Executive Director of Student Services, including failure to report and making false or misleading statements to a public servant.
The arrests stem from an expanding investigation into allegations that student athletes at Mark Morris High School sexually assaulted younger teammates — and that school officials failed to alert police or state authorities despite learning about the allegations weeks earlier.
Court documents obtained by KGW say Cloninger allegedly pushed staff to handle the matter internally and warned employees the scandal could become a “career killer.” According to investigators, assistant principal Charles Paul Beckel launched an internal investigation on Jan. 29 after learning about the allegations. Detectives say district leadership, including Cloninger and Schoonover, was kept informed throughout the process.
The probable cause statement alleges one student was forcibly dragged into the varsity team room, pinned down, and partially disrobed.
Police say staff members raised repeated concerns about mandatory reporting laws and whether law enforcement should be contacted, but detectives allege Cloninger directed employees to “figure this out” internally and discouraged further discussion. “This investigation required a significant amount of time, coordination, and evidence review,” said Police Chief Robert Huhta. “We understand the significance this case has in our community and the concern it has created for students, families, staff, and the broader public.”
According to the affidavit cited by the outlet, Cloninger allegedly instructed administrators not to put anything in writing and told staff they did not want more rumors circulating among students or the community.
Investigators say that Longview police leadership contacted Cloninger directly on Feb. 5, after social media rumors began to spread. Detectives allege she told police the district had already investigated the matter and handled it internally.
A Feb. 8 letter sent to families from Mark Morris High School reportedly described online reports as “false rumors and speculation” and said the district had already imposed “appropriate consequences.”
Police say the criminal investigation officially began only after a parent contacted law enforcement directly on Feb. 9 to report a sexual assault. Detectives later served multiple search warrants and say they uncovered evidence suggesting district officials withheld information from investigators for weeks. “Karen (Cloninger) stifled multiple employees from doing the right thing and reporting to law enforcement and told them to stand down,” an investigator wrote in the affidavit.
Cloninger appeared Friday in Cowlitz County Superior Court, where a judge ordered her not to contact Longview students or witnesses connected to the case. She later posted bail and is expected back in court on June 10 for arraignment. Her attorney denied the allegations during the hearing.
Police say the investigation remains active and additional arrests or charges are possible.
