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Former school administrator Mark Oesterle sentenced to 20 years

Fort Smith, ARLocal News

Mark Oesterle, a former school administrator in Benton County, Arkansas, has received a 20-year prison sentence for failing to register as a sex offender. His legal troubles escalated in 2023 when he was found on the Har-Ber High School campus, violating the conditions of his sex offender registration. Oesterle's past includes a guilty plea for sexual assault in 2019, which led to probation and a mandatory registration as a sex offender. According to Benton County Prosecutor Bryan Sexton, Oesterle is now prohibited from having unsupervised contact with minors, except for his biological children. The case has raised alarm about the safety of children in educational settings, given Oesterle's previous roles in the school system.

Additionally, a detective noted that Oesterle had undisclosed online accounts, further complicating his compliance with registration laws. Oesterle's actions have prompted a court order banning him from school premises entirely. He is set to appear in Washington County circuit court on May 6 to address additional accusations.

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