Bremont Released Under House Arrest
The Redmond Proficiency Academy director accused of rape and sex abuse involving a student was arraigned Wednesday afternoon and was granted permission to leave jail and live with relatives in the Portland area ? under house arrest.
Michael Bremont, 39, was arraigned by video hookup from the Deschutes County Jail on the 14-count indictment returned by a grand jury on Monday.
Bremont originally faced 11 counts, before a grand jury was convened to hear testimony and decide on formal charges.
Under the indictment filed Monday, Bremont now faces single counts of third-degree attempted rape and third-degree sodomy, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and 10 counts of third-degree sexual abuse.
As an earlier district attorney?s charging document indicated, the charges all involve one alleged victim, under the age of 16 at the time, and accuses Bremont of acts including deviate sexual intercourse and touching the victim?s sexual parts and mouth.
The indictment also states in several counts that Bremont ?knew or had reason to know of the victim?s particular vulnerability.?
Circuit Judge Stephen Forte approved Bremont?s new release conditions. He will be under house arrest, living with an aunt and uncle in the Portland suburb of West Linn, and under a strict watch with a GPS monitoring device.
Under his newly expanded release conditions, Bremont is still not allowed to leave the state. He?s also forbidden to contact the alleged victim, any minors, other than his own children, or any employees of the charter school.
Bremont, who also surrendered his passport to the court, won’t be allowed to leave the West Linn home, except to see his attorney or a doctor, prosecutors said.
Bremont was released from jail later Wednesday. Judge Forte set Bremont?s plea hearing for April 9 at 8:30 a.m.
Bremont was released on bail the day after his Feb. 18 arrest, but was arrested in Albany a few days later on accusations of violating conditions of his release. He remained in jail on $500,000 bail until Wednesday’s hearing.
The school?s board president, Patrick MacKelvie, said board members testified before the grand jury. He said Bremont remains on paid administrative leave, but that could change soon.
?We?ve also been in contact with the county district attorney and are awaiting information from the hearing on Monday,? he said. ?And then we?ll get back together with our insurance representatives and make the appropriate decision at that point.?
Meanwhile, MacKelvie said that the interim school director, Dr. Jon Bullock, is doing a great job, putting students first and keeping them focused during the crisis.
“Certainly, safety is No. 1,” MacKelvie said. “Then, the students’ well-being and providing them with everything they need to succeed.”
