Oregon high school teacher arrested on multiple child sex crime charges with different victims: police

An Oregon high school math teacher has been arrested on several child sex crime charges involving multiple alleged victims. Wymon Wayne Smith, 66, of McMinnville, was taken into custody on Thursday after the sheriff's office said they identified a second victim. The teacher, who was placed on administrative leave from Banks High School last month, was first arrested on January 14 on suspicion of having had "sexual contact with a student," the Oregonian reported.

Smith faces a series of charges by the Washington County District Attorney's Office, including four counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, first-degree sodomy, and two counts of luring a minor, court records show.

Authorities launched an investigation on January 7 after a minor female student alleged Smith had groped her and discussed "sexual conduct" the day prior, according to an indictment. He was immediately placed on administrative leave and the school notified the sheriff's office.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that they "learned Smith had sexually inappropriate conversations with multiple students and had sexual contact with at least one student on school property." Smith was arrested on January 14 and booked into the county jail on $25,000 bail. Records show he bailed out on January 28.

 

Wymon Smith has been charged with several child sexual abuse crimes by the Washington County District Attorney's Office

Shortly after his arrest, the Sheriff's Office said they believed there could be additional victims. A second female victim came forward to authorities and alleged that Smith sexually abused her while she was a student under the age of 18 between 2009 and 2010. Smith was arrested again on February 6 and booked into jail.

There have been 20 reports filed since Smith's first arrest, resulting in new charges, the Sheriff's Office said.

Brian Sica, the superintendent of Banks High School, said in a statement: "We share in the deep concern that this causes within our community."

The Oregonian reported that Smith began teaching in the Banks School District in 2004, working as the athletic director. The Sheriff's Office said that Smith worked as a teacher in Astoria in the early 2000s and in Nevada in the early 1990s.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office said anyone who may be a victim or has further information is encouraged to contact the office at 503-846-2500.