Former RPA director arrested on new sex abuse charges

A former Redmond Proficiency Academy executive director who spent more than a year in prison for sexually abusing two students five years ago was arrested again Friday, accused of a sexual relationship with another student under age 18 during his time at the school.

Redmond police arrested Michael Bremont, 44, on Friday on 10 counts of second-degree sexual abuse and he was booked into the Deschutes County Jail. Bail on the charges totaled $200,000, but he also was being held without bail on a probation violation.

In 2012, Redmond police received information that Bremont had engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor female who was a student when he was director of the charter school, a role similar to principal, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.

Bremont was convicted of second-degree sexual abuse and served 14 months of a 19-month sentence.

“Itt was suspected at the time there may have been additional victims, but probable cause did not exist to make any additional arrests,” Chambers said in a news release Friday.

In July of this year, another alleged victim came forward and contacted Remdond police to disclose she had had a sexual relationship with Bremont while she was under the age of 18 and a student at RPA, Chambers said. The relationship also continued after the victim turned 18, he added.

Bremont was convicted in 2012 of sexually abusing two minors, including a 15-year-old student at the academy, the other a student when he worked at Central Linn High School in Halsey in 2005-06. He was sentenced to 19 months in prison and five years probation after entering an Alford plea, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but admitted evidence likely would lead to a conviction.

Court papers revealed intimate text messages between Bremont and the Redmond 15-year-old. At the sentencing, the teen, then 18, told the courtroom Bremont stole her innocence and robbed her of trust in men.

Since July, a Redmond detective has been investigating and developed probable cause to believe Bremont committed additional sex crimes with another victim while he was the director of RPA.

Bremont was arrested Friday when he checked in with his probation officer. He’s due to make an initial court appearance Monday afternoon.

Chambers said the Redmond Police Department does not identify victims of sex-related crimes.

He said anyone with additional information about Bremont and sexual contact with minors is encouraged to contact Redmond police.

Redmond police, the state of Oregon and sexual assault victim advocates recognize being a sexual assault victim can be a traumatizing incident and victims may choose not to report or disclose the incident until a later time, Chambers said.

Young victims of a sex offense may not realize they are being taken advantage of until much later in life. For these reasons, the state of Oregon recently lengthened the statute of limitations for some sex offenses.

In Central Oregon, Chambers said, Saving Grace is an excellent resource for those who have or are currently trying to survive a sexual assault. Services are available in the form of support groups, an emergency shelter, court advocacy, respite child care, and a 24-hour hotline. The hotline phone number is 541-389-7021.

Less than six months after his release from state prison, Bremont was arrested on charges of trying to elude an Oregon State Police trooper on a motorcycle at over 100 mph west of Redmond. Court records show he eventually was sentenced to 18 months probation.