Updated 4:59 p.m. Friday

Portland police have accused a 23-year-old homeless man of 54 sexual crimes involving children.

Jared Kelly White

Jared Kelly White faces charges of sodomy, sex abuse and unlawful sexual penetration after his arrest Tuesday at a home near Southeast 126th Avenue and Bush Street.

According to court records, the Washington native lists his current address as "couch surfing."

The Portland Police Bureau's Child Abuse Team conducted three investigations last year involving three children and allegations dating back to 2007, according to a news release Wednesday.

Police said White has had several jobs that put him in contact with children and that there could be more potential victims.

White is a former employee of the Multnomah Education Service District Outdoor School. Laura Conroy, service district spokeswoman, said he worked at the Sandy River Outdoor School in Corbett as a program leader from March 2014 to October 2015.

She said he was placed on administrative leave Oct. 22, immediately after police informed the district about the investigation. He will not be returning, she said.

"(The district) has cooperated fully with law enforcement during its investigation," Conroy said. "Mr. White, like all of our employees, was given a criminal background check and unfortunately because nothing was known at that time the background check was clear."

She emphasized that the district has a number of safety procedures in place. For example, Conroy noted, adults do not typically stay in the cabins unless there's a mitigating factor, such as a special needs student in need of assistance. And there must be at least three people present when adults and students travel together, she said.

On Friday, Conroy said the district determined that White had additional roles with Outdoor School program. He was a volunteer at the Namanu, Sandy River and Arrah Wanna Outdoor School sites between September 2011 and April 2013, she said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. He also served as a student leader at the Adams Outdoor School site from September 2008 to May 2011.

"It's is very important that families and the community have this additional information," she said in the email, adding that the district was working with schools to notify families.

Police have not disclosed how he came in contact with the three children in the criminal complaint or provide any other details.

The police bureau asks anyone with information about White to call Detective Nathan Tobey at 503-823-0276 or email Nathan.tobey@portlandoregon.gov.

-- Tony Hernandez

thernandez@oregonian.com

503-294-5928

@tonyhreports