'Rumors can snowball into sensational stories'
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. -- Police say multiple young women have come forward saying they had sexual encounters with a teacher while they were underage, but the teacher says it's not true -- and school officials say police never contacted them about the allegations.
Shane Mast, 31, faces misdemeanor sex abuse charges in Lane and Douglas counties for allegedly having sex with underage girls during the time he was a social studies teacher at Cottage Grove High School and a basketball coach at North Douglas High School in Drain, Ore.
"We have more interviews pending," Cpl. Scott Shepherd with the Cottage Grove Police Department said, "and we expect there will be even more charges filed against Mr. Mast because of subsequent interviews."
Police said the alleged sex abuse did not physically happen at either high school. They said at least one incident happened in Cottage Grove, the rest in Douglas County at the end of the 2008 school year.
Mast taught from 2004 to 2008. He asked for a leave of absence so he could do non-profit work in Africa and later resigned to pursue that work.
Principals at both schools would not speak to the media. KVAL News spoke with South Lane School District superintendent Krista Parent, who said that throughout the entire investigation, school officials were not questioned by police.
"It was a shock," Parent said. "The first I'd learned there'd even been an investigation going on was last night when I heard it on the news."
Mast spoke to KVAL News by phone Tuesday night. He said he never had sexual relations with any students and that he feels the police are out to get him.
He didn't want to go on camera, but in a written statement, he said:
"Rumors can snowball into sensational stories from unsensational truths! I believe these accusations are not coming from any alleged victims, but rather from overzealous police officers who seem to be on a personal vendetta rather than looking for justice and social welfare."
"If Mr. Mast would like to say that, he has every right to," Cpl. Shepherd said. "And he is right: we'll see him in court."
Mast is expected to make a court appearance Thursday.
