Wilsonville state prison worker charged with sexual misconduct

An Oregon Department of Corrections prison employee was arrested Wednesday by Oregon State Police on numerous charges of custodial sexual misconduct.

OSP said it was notified by the corrections agency in February of potential misconduct by one of their staff members at the Coffee Creek Correctional Center in Wilsonville. DOC advised OSP they had received information that a corrections officer, Edgar Mickles, 50, had engaged in potential criminal conduct.

OSP detectives began an investigation into the allegations and arrested Mickles without incident. He was booked into the Washington County Jail on eight counts of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct, as well as three second-degree counts, and one count of official misconduct.

The investigation continues, the corrections agency said, and no more information will be released without authorization from the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

The DOC said its Office of the Inspector General “worked diligently to provide critical evidence to OSP, and DOC is cooperating fully with its law enforcement partners.”

DOC said it has a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment, the agency said. All allegations of both are reported and thoroughly investigated. If evidence supports the case, prosecution is imminent. Staff members convicted of sexual misconduct will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

DOC also said it strictly adheres to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003. Every state corrections department, juvenile corrections agency, private prison, federal prison and jail has an obligation to comply with PREA standards, which seek to detect, prevent, and eliminate sexual abuse and sexual harassment in correctional settings.

Mickles began his career as a correctional officer at Coffee Creek in May 2013.