PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A 23-year-old man is being held on $13.5 million bail after being indicted by a grand jury on 54 felony sex crimes involving children.
The indictment against Jared Kelly White was filed Jan. 28 and he was arrested early Wednesday at a residence near SE 126th and Bush.
White appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of 1st-degree sodomy, 28 counts of 1st-degree sex abuse, and 11 counts of 1st-degree unlawful sexual penetration.
The Multnomah County Child Abuse Team conducted three separate investigations in 2015 looking into the allegations of abuse that began in December 2007 and continued through September 2013.
The juvenile victims have been identified, Portland police said. They aren’t related to White but are known to him, investigators said.
During that time period, White held several jobs where he was in contact with kids. Officials said White worked for the Multnomah Education Service District Outdoor School and an event childcare company.
Investigators said there may be more victims.The school connection
According to his Facebook page, White was a program leader and had several pictures with young children in them. In 2014, he posted a message saying he’s wanted the job at the school for 5 years “and now I’ve finally earned it.”
Laura Conroy, the spokesperson for MESD, told KOIN 6 News White “was a program leader at the Sandy River Outdoor School. MESD operates 5 sites and he only worked at the Sandy River Outdoor School.”
Conroy said he worked there from March 2014 to October 2015 — when the investigation began.
“All of our employees have to pass a background check,” she said. “Unfortunately in this case, Mr. White didn’t have a record, so nothing came up.”
KOIN 6 News independently confirmed White has no previous criminal record.
MESD said they also have extra safeguards in place for outdoor school, include not allowing adults in the cabin with students and making sure people are always in a group of 3.‘He’s a good boy’
His mother, Dedri White, told KOIN 6 News her son did not commit the crimes he’s facing. She said Jared has voluntered and worked hard to help children.
“He’s a good boy,” she said. “And he has done so much for so many people.”
Jared White was arrested at a home in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood. His neighbor Joan — who asked KOIN 6 News not to use her last name — said she was shocked at the allegations.
“He’s an awesome kid. He is awesome, awesome, awesome kid. You couldn’t ask for a better guy,” Joan said. “I just cant imagine that he’s guilty of anything like that.”KOIN 6 News reporter Chris Holmstrom contributed to this report.