BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION OFTHESTATEOFOREGON In the Matter of the Educator License of KORY L. STURGESS ) ) ) DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION On October 21, 2022, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission) issued a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Kory L. Sturgess, (Sturgess) in which the Commission charged him with Gross Neglect of Duty and /or Gross Unfitness. The Notice was sent via U.S. First Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail Receipt 70210350 0000 84813958 to the address on file with the Commission. The Notice designated the Commission file as the record for purposes of proving a prima facie case. The regular first-class mail was not returned to the Commission and assumed delivered. The Notice of Opportunity of Hearing, dated October 21, 2022, and signed by Anthony Rosilez, Executive Director, stated: "IF A REQUEST FOR HEARING IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THIS 21-DAY PERIOD, YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING SHALL BE CONSIDERED WAIVED UNLESS YOUR FAIL URE TO REQUEST A HEARING WAS BEYOND YOUR REASONABLE CONTROL. IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST A HEARING, WITHDRAW YOUR REQUEST FOR HEARING, OR IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT A HEARING, OR NOTIFY THE COMMISSION THAT YOU WILL NOT APPEAR AT HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT AN ORDER OF DEFAULT WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE OR OTHER DISCIPLINE." As of November 16, 2022, TSPC has received no response from Sturgess. The Commission, therefore, finds Sturgess to be in default and enters the following findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final order, based on the files and records of the 32 Commission concerning this matter. 1. The Commission has licensed Sturgess since August 17, 2017. Sturgess currently holds a Preliminary Teaching License with an endorsement in Advanced Mathematics (PK-12). The license was issued on August 29, 2019 and expired on November 11, 2022. During all relevant times, Sturgess was employed by the 38 Coquille School District (CSD). PAGE 1-DEFAUL T ORDER OF SURRENDER OF LICENSURE AND REVOCATION- KORY L. STURGESS 1 2 2. On October 7, 2021, the Superintendent of the CSD filed a misconduct report 3 alleging that educator Kory Sturgess had been arrested and charged with multiple 4 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse (a felony) by Coquille Police Department 5 (CPD) on October 6, 2021. 6 7 3. Investigation by CPD in conjunction with agency assistance from the Oregon 8 Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and 9 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) determined 10 the following: 11 12 13 • A cyber tip reported that Sturgess was in possession of child pornography. 14 l5 • Based on the tip a search warrant was issued for Sturgess' residence. 16 • The search warrant was executed on October 6, 2021. 17 18 • Sturgess confirmed his on-line/ electronic identity for law enforcement 19 officials. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 • A forensic examination of Sturgess' computer and other electronic devices seized during the search warrant was conducted on October 12 and 13, 2021. Law enforcement identified 7,800 pornographic images of which 340 were clear depictions of child pornography. The images showed children ranging in ages from 7 to 15 years of age engaging in sex acts with other children and adults. During Sturgess' interview with law enforcement, he confirmed that he knew some of the photos were of minor aged children. 29 30 31 • On May 10, 2022, Sturgess was indicted by a grand jury in the Circuit Court for Coos County for 15 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st degree and 15 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd degree. PAGE 2-DEFAUL T ORDER OF SURRENDER OF LICENSURE AND REVOCATION- KORY L. STURGESS 1 2 • 3 Coos County Jail. 4 On May 13, 2022, Sturgess was arrested on these charges and lodged at the 5 • On August 12, 2022, Sturgess appeared in the Coos County Circuit Court for 6 sentencing. Sturgess plead guilty to four counts of Encouraging Child Sex 7 Abuse in the 1st degree and was sentenced to 35 months incarceration, 36 8 months post-prison supervision, and ordered to register as a sex offender. 9 10 11 4. On August 16th , 17th , and 25th , 2022, TSPC sent a request to interview letter to 12 13 14 Sturgess via both regular and certified mail. The letters were received by Sturgess on August 27, 2022 as confirmed by the USPS return receipt. As of the writing of this Notice of Hearing, TSPC has yet to receive a response from Sturgess. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Under ORS 342.175(2) and OAR 584, Division 020, the Commission will deny, revoke or deny the right to applyfor a license or charter school registration to any applicant or educator who, has been convicted of any of the crimes listed in ORS 342.143, or the substantial equivalent of any of those crimes if convicted in another jurisdiction or convicted of attempt to commit such crimes as defined in 161.405. 23 24 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 25 Under ORS 342.175(2) and OAR 584, Division 020, the Commission will deny, 26 revoke or deny the right to apply for a license or charter school registration to any 27 applicant or educator who, has been convicted of any of the crimes listed in ORS 28 342 .143, or the substantial equivalent of any of those crimes if convicted in another 29 jurisdiction or convicted of attempt to commit such crimes as defined in 161.405. 30 PAGE 3-DEFAULT ORDER OF SURRENDER OF LICENSURE AND REVOCATION- KORY L. STURGESS

WHEN: Oct. 07, 2021 at 06:37 PM
WHERE: Coquille, Oregon
SUSPECT: Kory Lee Sturgess  SEX OFFENDER

posted 3 days ago