Ex-principal convicted of student sexual abuse sentenced

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) — A former Oregon elementary school principal convicted of sexually abusing four students in his office is set to spend the rest of his life behind bars. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Clackamas County Circuit Judge Katherine Weber on Tuesday sentenced Jeff Hays to 43 years and nine months in state prison, matching the true life sentence recommended by a prosecutor. Hays was the top administrator at Deep Creek Elementary School in Damascus from 2005 to 2009. On June 6, the 68-year-old was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and six counts of unlawful sexual penetration after a five-week trial. A lawyer for Hays says he will appeal the conviction.