Two Fremont Middle School Staff Arrested; District Confirms Investigation in Message to Parents
Two Fremont Middle School staff members were arrested Thursday in connection with an investigation involving reported injuries to students in a specialized classroom program, according to Roseburg Schools. The district says it is cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues.
ROSEBURG, Ore. — Two instructional assistants at Fremont Middle School have been arrested following an investigation into injuries sustained by students in the school’s Developmental Learning Center, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they were notified Tuesday, Feb. 10 by school administrators that two students had been injured during the school day and later received medical treatment. One student suffered broken bones, while another sustained a laceration requiring stitches.
According to investigators, the injuries occurred during a physical education segment when students were playing behind large rolled-up mats positioned near a wall.
The sheriff’s office alleges that 60-year-old Brian Joseph Marsters of Roseburg ran at a high rate of speed into a mat, pinning one student between the mat and the wall and causing injury.
In a separate incident, deputies say 23-year-old Erich Michael Hoque of Roseburg engaged in similar conduct, injuring a second student.
Both men denied participating in activities that would have caused the injuries or having knowledge the students were injured, according to investigators.
Marsters and Hoque were taken into custody Thursday, Feb. 12 without incident and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of:
- Assault in the Fourth Degree
- Official Misconduct in the First Degree
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said it appreciates the cooperation of the Roseburg School District during the investigation. The official release can be found here.
District statement to families
Earlier Friday morning, Roseburg Public Schools Superintendent Jared Cordon sent a message to Fremont Middle School families through the district’s ParentSquare platform confirming that two staff members had been arrested in connection with the investigation.
Cordon said the employees were immediately placed on administrative leave and that the district initiated its own investigation while coordinating with law enforcement.
“I am shocked and deeply disturbed by the allegations that led to these charges,” Cordon wrote in the message. “If the conduct described is proven true, it represents a serious breach of trust and a failure to uphold the fundamental responsibility adults have to protect children.”
The superintendent said the district is legally limited in what additional details it can share due to the active criminal investigation and personnel matters.
“Every adult who serves in our schools must uphold the safety, dignity and well-being of students,” Cordon wrote. “We are also reviewing our procedures and oversight practices to determine whether additional safeguards are necessary.”
District officials said they will continue cooperating fully with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office as the investigation moves forward and that their focus remains on supporting students and families.
Investigation ongoing
No additional details have been released about the incidents beyond what has been confirmed by law enforcement and the district. The case remains under investigation.
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