Ex White Pass superintendent sentenced for having sexual photos of kids
A judge sentenced former White Pass School District superintendent Greggery Ray Teel on Wednesday morning to nine years behind bars for possessing and distributing sexual images of children.
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Teel, 52, of Kelso acknowledged the pain and embarrassment he caused his family, as well as the erosion of public trust in the education system.
He wiped tears from his face and, in the end, asked presiding Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Jill Karmy "for grace and mercy."
Instead, Karmy extended his prison stint from 99 months in an agreed-upon deal between prosecutors and his public defender, David Phelan, to 108 months.
He must also serve up to 36 months of community custody once released, and register as a sex offender.
Cowlitz County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alysa Draper-Dehart said the plea deal was made to spare witnesses and the jury the "mental burden" of the images Teel possessed and dealt with, which would have been shown during a trial.
Teel pleaded guilty on May 6 to one count of first-degree dealing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and three counts of first-degree depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, all of which are under a concurrent sentence.
Four criminal counts were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
About four people wanted to address Teel in court, but Karmy allowed only one due to time constraints. The other statements were provided to Karmy to read and be submitted for the record.
Teel's son read from a pre-written statement, stating Teel is "no father of mine."
He called Teel a monster and a cancer. Through there are thousands of religions, no hell is hot or deep enough for Teel, he added.
Local school history
Teel was arrested on Jan. 13 during a traffic stop as he left his home in Kelso after multiple referrals from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a report from an electronic service provider suspected him of uploading and sharing sexual images of minors.
Investigators obtained subscriber records and internet data that linked the reported illegal activity to an address in Kelso belonging to Teel, according to arrest records.
Teel was suspended from the White Pass School District, which covers Randle, Packwood, and Glenoma, after his arrest.
He was also the elementary principal at Toutle Lake School District from 2022 to 2023.
He worked at Napavine School District from 2013 to 2015 and at Centralia School District from 2015 to 2020, court records show.
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