Sutherlin Woman Faces Multiple Charges in Ongoing Investigation

SUTHERLIN — A 24-year-old Sutherlin woman, identified as Cienna Jayden Counts, was granted conditional release from the Douglas County Jail after her arrest Tuesday on multiple charges related to alleged inappropriate contact with students.

Court records show Counts was initially charged with two counts each of second-degree sexual abuse, witness tampering, and evidence tampering. On Wednesday, prosecutors added a first-degree sexual abuse charge. The allegations involve two students and are not believed to have occurred on school grounds or during school hours.

According to investigators, the Sutherlin Police Department began looking into the matter in mid-May, leading to Counts’ arrest earlier this week. During the investigation, Counts was placed on administrative leave from her position as an instructional assistant at Sutherlin Middle School.

In a written statement, Sutherlin School District Superintendent Terry Prestianni said the district acted immediately after learning of the allegations:
“At Sutherlin School District, we are dedicated to creating a culture of care in a safe learning environment. We take all allegations of misconduct seriously. As soon as we became aware of an allegation, we began fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities, and the employee was placed on paid administrative leave. Please understand that due to confidentiality, we cannot provide specific details or comments at this time.”

Court documents indicate the allegations stem from reports that circulated among students. The charges allege inappropriate contact during the spring of 2025, including incidents involving a child under the age of 14. The filings describe the contact as limited to the lips or mouth, which is legally defined as intimate contact under Oregon law.

In addition to the abuse charges, Counts faces allegations of attempting to interfere with potential witnesses and of destroying digital evidence. Witness tampering is a Class C felony, while evidence tampering is a Class A misdemeanor.

The added first-degree sexual abuse charge falls under Oregon’s Measure 11 statute, which imposes mandatory minimum prison terms for certain crimes. A conviction could result in a minimum sentence of six years and three months in prison. The two second-degree sexual abuse charges, classified as Class C felonies, are not subject to Measure 11 sentencing.

Counts spent one night in jail before being granted conditional release Wednesday morning. The release prohibits any contact with the alleged victims. She has not yet entered a plea and is scheduled to appear in Douglas County Circuit Court for arraignment Friday.