Two South Beach-area men have been arrested in connection with the sexual abuse of caregivers hired through Craigslist.

A bedridden man, Mahlon F. "Mel" Blose, 67, and his personal assistant, Ronald Lewis Flinter, 46, were arrested Sunday by Newport police after a three-day investigation. Flinter has been arraigned in Lincoln County Circuit Court. Because of Blose's health issues, police issued him criminal citations and allowed him to remain at his home, south of Newport.

According to Newport police, Flinter hired caregivers for Blose, offering room and board, along with a phone, as their pay. Blose, who is morbidly obese, then inappropriately touched the caregivers and required them to touch him in a sexually arousing manner, police said.

Flinter threatened to fire the caregivers and evict them if they didn't follow instructions.

Additionally, police said, Flinter was a "Peeping Tom," spying on the caregivers when they were in their own private residences on the property, watching them while undressing or having sex with boyfriends.

Flinter denied spying on the women, saying he merely walked the dogs outside the house.

On Sunday, Newport police and Lincoln County sheriff's deputies, armed with a search warrant, raided Blose's home in the 300 block of Southeast 35th Street. Police seized several computers, computer equipment, photos, cameras, published child pornography, evidence of trading in child pornography and pornographic photos and negatives.

Blose was cited for first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, second-degree subjecting another to involuntary servitude, trafficking in persons, conspiracy and harassment. His bail was set at $515,000.

Flinter was arrested on suspicion of invasion of personal privacy, second-degree subjecting another to involuntary servitude, trafficking in persons and conspiracy. He is being held in the Lincoln County Jail, with bail set at $400,000.

Police are asking anyone with information, or who may have worked as a caregiver for Blose, to contact Officer Brad Purdom at 541-265-4849.

-- Rick Bella rbella@oregonian.com

503-294-5915; @southnewshound