Bend care worker charged with indecency, mistreatment

A 54-year-old Bend personal care worker was charged Monday with private indecency and criminal mistreatment, accused of failing to properly care for a 14-year-old developmentally disabled boy by sleeping an hour one day and masturbating to pornography the next.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel filed an initial, two-count charging document called an information Monday against Craig Michael Randleman, listing a felony charge of first-degree criminal mistreatment and misdemeanor charge of private indecency.

Hummel said Randleman was a personal care worker employed by a local family and was paid by the state to provide care for their 14-year old son, who has developmental and intellectual disabilities.

The child’s disabilities result in him having the cognitive functioning of a 2-year old and being unable to communicate verbally, the DA said.

On April 12, Hummel said, Randleman was ostensibly caring for the child in the child’s home.

“Rather than providing excellent care, Randleman masturbated to pornography while in the living room of the home and with the child approximately 15 feet away from him,” Hummel’s office said in a news release.

“On the previous day, while also ostensibly caring for the child, Randleman slept for an hour, thereby placing the child, who requires constant care, at risk,” they added.

“Parents place their trust in child care providers to protect the most precious people in their lives,” Hummel said in a statement.

“Nothing is more impactful to a parent than the fear and anger that results when a care provider violates this trust by doing something that potentially harms their child,” the DA said. “Mr. Randleman deserves to be held accountable for his actions, and the filing of this case against him is the first step in achieving this outcome.”

Randleman is scheduled for arraignment on June 13.