South Royalton principal pleads not guilty to voyeurism involving teen

Editor’s note: This story by Jordan Cuddemi was published first by the Valley News on Nov. 30, 2017.

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The principal of South Royalton School has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of promoting a sexual recording and a misdemeanor voyeurism charge.

Vermont State Police said a teenage girl who had been staying at his home in Sharon on a temporary basis called police Wednesday to say she believed she was being videotaped there.

Police found that she was being video recorded inside the bathroom of the home of Dean Stearns, the principal of the South Royalton School, according to a state police news release Wednesday.

Stearns, 55, was released on $15,000 bond after being arraigned late Wednesday afternoon in Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction. He did not speak in court.

White River Valley Supervisory Union Superintendent Bruce Labs issued a statement that said, “Mr. Stearns has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. It is a personnel matter, and as such, we cannot give out any information. We are cooperating with the authorities on this investigation. (Vice Principal) Frank Romeo is acting as administrator in charge at South Royalton until further notice.”

Stearns in October announced his resignation to take effect at the end of the school year.

Read the story on VTDigger here: South Royalton principal pleads not guilty to voyeurism involving teen.