Rogers High School Principal Jason Smith and Athletic Coordinator Peter Collins were each charged July 21 in Pierce County District Court with failure to comply with Washington's mandatory reporting law.
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Two Puyallup School District officials have been charged with gross misdemeanors for allegedly failing to report a Rogers High School wrestler's claim that she was sexually assaulted during a girls wrestling match by her biological male opponent who identified as transgender.
According to court records, Rogers High School Principal Jason Smith, 55, and Athletic Coordinator Peter Collins, 49, were each charged July 21 in Pierce County District Court with failure to comply with Washington's mandatory reporting law.
The charges stem from allegations made by Kallie Keeler, who says she was sexually assaulted during a Dec. 6, 2025, girls wrestling match against a biological male competitor at an Emerald Ridge High School tournament.
Keeler and her family have maintained they reported the alleged assault to school officials immediately after the match, but law enforcement was not contacted for 53 days, despite Washington law requiring school employees to promptly report suspected child abuse or sexual abuse.
The charges come weeks after Pierce County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against the trans athlete accused of assaulting Keeler.
In a memorandum explaining that decision, prosecutors concluded they could not prove a charge of third-degree rape beyond a reasonable doubt because of Washington case law involving consent in athletic contests. Prosecutors acknowledged there was "no doubt" Keeler did not want penetration to occur but concluded they could not overcome a legal consent defense recognized in organized sports. The prosecutor also emphasized that the decision not to file charges was unrelated to the athlete's gender identity.
Keeler and her mother have separately filed a federal lawsuit against the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, the Puyallup School District, and other school officials, alleging Washington's policies allowing biological males to compete in girls' sports led directly to the incident. The lawsuit alleges Keeler was never told before the match that she would be wrestling a biological male.
According to Kate Anderson, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, Keeler's attorneys are seeking more than damages. "She wants to be able to ensure that she can participate in the sport that she loves without fear that this kind of thing is going to happen again," Anderson told The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI. "She wants to make sure that the same thing is true for other girls."
Anderson said Keeler has wrestled since she was four years old and still hopes to compete again but has not been guaranteed she won't again be matched against a biological male athlete. "Her only recourse would be to figure it out herself and forfeit before she walks onto the mat," Anderson said. "And that's not fair for her or any girl in the state."
The controversy continued into the postseason. After the allegations became public, the biological male wrestler accused by Keeler voluntarily withdrew from the Washington state girls wrestling championships. His place in the tournament bracket was subsequently awarded to a female athlete.
Earlier this year, the US Department of Education opened a Title IX investigation into the Puyallup School District. Federal officials said they are investigating whether the district violated Title IX by allowing biological males to compete in girls sports, permitting biological males access to girls locker rooms, and failing to adequately respond to allegations of sexual assault.
The controversy has also become a focal point in the campaign over Initiative IL26-638, a Let's Go Washington measure on the November ballot that would prohibit biological male students from competing in girls' and women's scholastic sports. Supporters of the initiative have repeatedly pointed to Keeler's case as an example of why they believe state law should be changed.
The charges against the Rogers High administrators come just months after Longview Public Schools Superintendent Karen Cloninger was arrested and charged with felony witness tampering, failure to report child abuse, and obstructing a law enforcement officer in connection with allegations that district officials failed to promptly report student sexual assault claims at Mark Morris High School. Prosecutors alleged Longview administrators attempted to handle allegations internally rather than immediately notifying law enforcement. Together, the Longview and Puyallup cases have placed a renewed spotlight on Washington's mandatory reporting law and the potential criminal consequences school officials face when they fail to report suspected child abuse or sexual assault.
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, both Smith and Collins have waived personal appearances at their scheduled arraignments.
If convicted, the officials could face penalties associated with Washington's mandatory reporting statute. The criminal case, Keeler's federal lawsuit, and the Department of Education's Title IX investigation all remain pending.
According to court records, Rogers High School Principal Jason Smith, 55, and Athletic Coordinator Peter Collins, 49, were each charged July 21 in Pierce County District Court with failure to comply with Washington's mandatory reporting law.
The charges stem from allegations made by Kallie Keeler, who says she was sexually assaulted during a Dec. 6, 2025, girls wrestling match against a biological male competitor at an Emerald Ridge High School tournament.
Keeler and her family have maintained they reported the alleged assault to school officials immediately after the match, but law enforcement was not contacted for 53 days, despite Washington law requiring school employees to promptly report suspected child abuse or sexual abuse.
The charges come weeks after Pierce County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against the trans athlete accused of assaulting Keeler.
In a memorandum explaining that decision, prosecutors concluded they could not prove a charge of third-degree rape beyond a reasonable doubt because of Washington case law involving consent in athletic contests. Prosecutors acknowledged there was "no doubt" Keeler did not want penetration to occur but concluded they could not overcome a legal consent defense recognized in organized sports. The prosecutor also emphasized that the decision not to file charges was unrelated to the athlete's gender identity.
Keeler and her mother have separately filed a federal lawsuit against the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, the Puyallup School District, and other school officials, alleging Washington's policies allowing biological males to compete in girls' sports led directly to the incident. The lawsuit alleges Keeler was never told before the match that she would be wrestling a biological male.
According to Kate Anderson, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, Keeler's attorneys are seeking more than damages. "She wants to be able to ensure that she can participate in the sport that she loves without fear that this kind of thing is going to happen again," Anderson told The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI. "She wants to make sure that the same thing is true for other girls."
Anderson said Keeler has wrestled since she was four years old and still hopes to compete again but has not been guaranteed she won't again be matched against a biological male athlete. "Her only recourse would be to figure it out herself and forfeit before she walks onto the mat," Anderson said. "And that's not fair for her or any girl in the state."
The controversy continued into the postseason. After the allegations became public, the biological male wrestler accused by Keeler voluntarily withdrew from the Washington state girls wrestling championships. His place in the tournament bracket was subsequently awarded to a female athlete.
Earlier this year, the US Department of Education opened a Title IX investigation into the Puyallup School District. Federal officials said they are investigating whether the district violated Title IX by allowing biological males to compete in girls sports, permitting biological males access to girls locker rooms, and failing to adequately respond to allegations of sexual assault.
The controversy has also become a focal point in the campaign over Initiative IL26-638, a Let's Go Washington measure on the November ballot that would prohibit biological male students from competing in girls' and women's scholastic sports. Supporters of the initiative have repeatedly pointed to Keeler's case as an example of why they believe state law should be changed.
The charges against the Rogers High administrators come just months after Longview Public Schools Superintendent Karen Cloninger was arrested and charged with felony witness tampering, failure to report child abuse, and obstructing a law enforcement officer in connection with allegations that district officials failed to promptly report student sexual assault claims at Mark Morris High School. Prosecutors alleged Longview administrators attempted to handle allegations internally rather than immediately notifying law enforcement. Together, the Longview and Puyallup cases have placed a renewed spotlight on Washington's mandatory reporting law and the potential criminal consequences school officials face when they fail to report suspected child abuse or sexual assault.
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, both Smith and Collins have waived personal appearances at their scheduled arraignments.
If convicted, the officials could face penalties associated with Washington's mandatory reporting statute. The criminal case, Keeler's federal lawsuit, and the Department of Education's Title IX investigation all remain pending.
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