Donald E. Long center.jpeg

Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center

(Everton Bailey Jr./The Oregonian)

A Lincoln High School senior accused of sexually abusing at least one classmate was ordered held Friday at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center in Portland.

The 17-year-old boy could be released next week if his parents and juvenile officials can work out an adequate plan approved by the District Attorney's Office for him to finish the school year, keep off social media and not interact with the two girls involved in the case, judicial referee Linda Hughes said in Juvenile Court.

He was arrested Tuesday on the Lincoln campus on charges of second-degree sexual abuse, unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, harassment, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and causing another to ingest a controlled substance. He initially was held at the detention center but later released to his father.

The arrest stemmed from an investigation that began in July into allegations that apparently happened off-campus, Portland police said. Police and prosecutors have released few details of the circumstances of the case and they weren't disclosed in court. The boy's attorney declined to comment.

The boy attended the preliminary hearing with his father, mother and grandparents. He sat at a table in front of Hughes with his attorney David Lesh. The two girls sat in front row seats in the courtroom gallery.

A friend of the girls spoke on their behalf. She said the girls have been concerned about the boy still attending Lincoln and that they are often anxious about running into him on campus.

Prosecutors asked Hughes to order the boy back into custody because they had concerns about his release. Candice Johnson, a juvenile court counselor, said there could be other alleged victims and a police report indicated that the boy gave drugs to students at school.

She said he was released before an investigation was done of his home and family life to develop a safety plan for him if he were released.

Hughes said several times that she didn't understand why the boy was released in light of the charges he faced. Judy Swanson, a Multnomah County deputy district attorney, said the county Juvenile Services Division made the decision.

The boy's father said he understood the concerns of the girls but noted they had all been attending school together since fall without incident. He said he and his wife would keep a close eye on their son and that the boy's grandparents, who are retired and live a mile away from them, would help.

Their son hopes to complete his school work and college applications, his father said. He's willing to undergo a lie detector test, counseling or perform community service, the father told Hughes.

The father said they would do what they can to ensure his son had a safe environment and lessen the anxiety of the alleged victims.

The boy's mother described her son as an "incredible student who's got a very level head on his shoulders."

"The last thing he is is a danger to society," she said.

Lesh said they would agree to keep the student on home confinement and have him finish his remaining credits at Portland Community College or another school.

Hughes said the boy shouldn't go back to Lincoln and that she wanted a plan to better address how he would get his remaining credits to graduate and stay off social media. She ordered him held until at least Tuesday.

The boy's mother began to cry. She later described the case to the judge as "a witchhunt."

"There are rumors (my son) is in jail for rape," she said. "I just can't explain to you the trauma that we are having to endure. That's the rumor that got out and that's what stuck."

The Oregonian/OregonLive generally doesn't name juveniles who aren't tried as adults.

As the boy was led out of the courtroom by a county deputy, he hugged his mother and told her "don't worry."

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey