Prineville, Ore. – The Oregon Government Ethics Commission is preparing to sign a proposed stipulated final order imposing a $1,000 civil penalty on Crook County High School Principal Jake Huffman, resolving a months-long state investigation into his private wrestling academy’s use of district facilities without paying required rental fees.
According to the final order, which has not yet been fully approved by the commission, investigators concluded that Huffman violated two provisions of Oregon Government Ethics Law — ORS 244.040(1) and ORS 244.120(1)(c) — by using his public position to avoid financial detriment to his for-profit business, the Central Oregon Wrestling Academy (COWA), and by failing to disclose an actual conflict of interest.
The order states that from April 2022 through April 2025, Huffman’s business used Crook County School District gym facilities for practices without paying rental fees. During that time, COWA operated using Huffman’s district-issued keys and shared scheduling with the nonprofit Cowboy Mat Club.
Although COWA later entered a facilities-use agreement with the district in December 2024, the contract still waived rental fees that would normally apply to a for-profit enterprise under district policy, set at $20 per hour.
The commission determined Huffman’s actions allowed his business to “avoid the cost of paying for its private expenses” — a benefit that “would not have been available but for [his] official position as the high school principal.”
Before the proposed order’s release, Huffman reimbursed the district $5,260 for the unpaid fees covering the three-year period. The district’s superintendent submitted a letter to the commission describing Huffman as “a dedicated and ethical educator” who had taken full responsibility and paid all retroactive fees.
Huffman, who has served as both principal and assistant principal at the high school, told the commission that any violations were unintentional and that he acted in good faith while coordinating wrestling practices. He said COWA’s finances were modest — with gross annual income around $13,000 and occasional losses — rejecting claims that the program generated large profits.
Under the terms of the settlement, Huffman agreed to pay the $1,000 fine within 30 days and waived his right to a contested hearing or judicial review. The ethics commission, in turn, released all further claims related to the case.
The case, No. 25-134EAM, originated in May 2025 after the commission voted unanimously to open a formal investigation based on information reviewed during its preliminary inquiry.
The Prineville Review first reported in early May that the ethics panel had opened the investigation. Huffman’s reimbursement and the proposed order were released as part of an agenda for the OGEC’s upcoming Oct. 10th meeting.
Huffman spoke by phone earlier this morning with KTVZ News, where he said, “It’s been a really long process, and I’m just looking forward to it being concluded.”
“It hasn’t been an easy thing to deal with, but I’m looking forward to moving on.” he added.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject mater expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
