Details revealed of Madras HS coach sex abuse case

A physical education teacher who is the girls basketball and soccer coach at Madras High School was arrested Wednesday night and faces 10 counts of sex abuse involving a 17-year-old Madras girl, authorities said Thursday.

Michael Ray Osborne, 44, of Redmond, was arrested at his home around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Madras Assistant Chief Tanner Stanfill.

Osborne was lodged at the Jefferson County Jail late Wednesday on $37,500 bail, after his arrest on five counts each of second- and third-degree sex abuse.

However, Jefferson County DA Steve Leriche said that based on information in an affidavit regarding probable cause, his office filed informal initial charges — called an “information” — on 15 counts of second-degree sex abuse.

Osborne was released from jail late Thursday morning, pending a Dec. 17 court date, after posting the required 10 percent of his bail.

Stanfill said Madras police took a report Monday evening of possible sex abuse involving the teen and a teacher-coach at the high school.

Working with the Jefferson County School District 509-J, Stanfill said they immediately began investigating the allegations.

Charging documents filed Thursday allege Osborne engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with the girl, who was 16 when it began in April.

An affidavit said Madras police began their investigation when a friend of the victim told an officer the teen had told her about having sex with Osborne. Osborne told police he cared for the girl and responded to a question by saying he loved her. He also admitted giving her $200 to buy a new phone but declined to answer more questions.

The school district allowed police to search the coaches’ area at the high school. The affidavit said they found several notes in Osborne’s desk between hm and the victim, saying “I love you” and using pet names they had for each other.

The victim’s mother contacted police Wednesday afternoon and said her daughter told her they had sex several times. The victim admitted having sex with Osborne during a police interview Wednesday night and he was arrested shortly afterward.

Madras police continue working with the school district, Stanfill said, and “anyone with information about inappropriate contact by Mr. Osborne with students” was encouraged to call Madras police Detective Mel Brown at (541) 475-2424.

Leriche said the evidence will be heard by a grand jury to consider formal charges before Osborne’s court appearance.

Online records from the Oregon School Activities Association show Osborne coaches varsity, junior varsity and freshman girls basketball and varsity and JV girls soccer.

Osborne has been a coach at the high school for three years, Jefferson County schools’ Human Resources and Operations Director Darryl Smith told NewsChannel 21.

Previously, Osborne worked for the Bend-La Pine Schools from 2003-05; a spokeswoman said no complaints were in his personnel file from that period. He worked for Redmond schools from 2006-2009, a district spokeswoman said.

In a letter sent to parents, staff and others on Thursday, Superintendent Rick Molitor said Osborne has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation; Smith clarified that it is paid leave.

It continued:

“Once we were aware of the allegations, we took immediate action to ensure the safety of our students, and notified law enforcement. To support our students and staff, the district aggressively seeks facts to determine the validity of any allegations against staff members of our district. With that said, we have been and will continue to work aggressively with local law enforcement to determine next steps and move forward in this situation.

“Meantime, our district team is committed to keeping you informed when issues affect our schools and students. We also recognize our responsibility to protect the legal rights and privacy of our students and staff members when allegations are made and formal investigations are pending.

“Please know that the safety and well being of our students and staff is always our first priority and we plan to keep you informed as any additional information becomes available, “Molitor concluded.

Smith said the community was hard-hit by the news of charges against the well-known coach.

Leriche said he expects “a lengthy, thorough investigation” by Madras police and asked “any members of the public who may have knowledge of anything to please come forward and talk to madras police, because I think he had connections with several communities.