Judge: Bend abuse suspect can’t be alone with minors

(Correction: Thoma no longer president of Stage Right Productions)

A 50-year-old Bend businessman was back in court Tuesday for his arraignment on charges of connecting with a child under 16 on the Internet and later committing several sex crimes with the youth at the juvenile’s home.

Officers determined that after Gregory Thoma met with the juvenile, he continued to communicate with the child. His full list of 16 charges includes third-degree rape, three counts of third-degree sodomy, second- and third-degree sex abuse, first-degree online sexual corruption of a child and luring a minor for sexual conduct.

The indictment handed down by a grand jury last week alleges crimes occurred between Aug. 1 and Sept. 1 of this year.

At Tuesday’s arraignment, Deschutes County Circuit Judge Beth Bagley ruled Thoma will not be allowed any contact with minors unless supervised by another adult. He has a plea hearing set for Dec. 4.

Thoma, who owns a custom framing shop, said he has resigned as president of Stage Right Productions, a non-profit that operates the 2nd Street Theater.