Jefferson Co. school worker facing sex abuse charges
(Update: Superintendent says McCoy has worked for schools for 14 years, now on paid leave)
A 60-year-old Jefferson County School District 509-J maintenance worker has been arrested on 10 sex abuse charges involving a 15-year-old Idaho girl, authorities said Tuesday.
Sheriff’s Detective Jason Pollock said he responded last Wednesday to a home northeast of Madras regarding possible sexual abuse of a child.
During the investigation, Pollock traveled to Idaho to interview the potential alleged victim.
Pollock said he arrested Michael John McCoy on Monday on 10 counts of first-degree sex abuse. He was taken to the county jail and held on bail of $250,000.
The DA’s initial charging document also listed 10 counts of sexual abuse, but five each of first-degree (a Class B felony) and third-degree (a Class A misdemeanor).
The first-degree charges involved incidents of alleged sexual contact between March 7, 2015 and June 1, 2016, while the third-degree counts listed a timeframe between June 2, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
Court records indicated he was arraigned on the initial charges Tuesday and remained jailed pending his arraignment scheduled Friday on an expected grand jury indictment.
Because McCoy is a school maintenance worker and has been a foster parent for 20 years, the sheriff’s office “is seeking the public’s help with any information in relation to this case,” Pollock said in a news release.
“The sheriff’s office is particularly concerned with Michael’s frequent contact with children,” Pollock added.
Pollock can be reached at 541-475-6520, cell number 541-420-1619 or email jason.pollock@co.jefferson.or.us.
Jefferson County schools Superintendent Ken Pershall issued this statement Wednesday about the matter:
“Mr. McCoy has been an employee of the school district for approximately 14 years. While there is no evidence of a connection between the charges against him and our students or school district, we take these matters very seriously.
“Immediately upon learning of his arrest, he was placed on paid administrative leave. Meantime, we are cooperating with the District Attorney’s office and their investigation. We also encourage anyone in our community who has additional information to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff Department.”
