Jan 25, 2008 - Andrew Bolsinger, 41, a former teacher at Willamette Valley Christian School, was arrested after allegations surfaced that he had a sexual relationship with a
student in 2000.
Bolsinger faces charges of rape and sodomy in the first degree, and 5 counts of sexual abuse in the second degree and custodial interference in the first degree. Bolsinger has not worked at the school since 2000.
Full Name: Andrew Scot Bolsinger
This arrest is a result of an investigation conducted by Marion County Sheriff's Office Detectives who were contacted in September 2007 by a former female student of the Willamette Valley Christian School in Brooks, Oregon.Any persons with information about this or similar incidents involving Andrew Bolsinger are encouraged to call Detective Tyler Chapman at (503)566-6910.
This student reported having a sexual relationship with a former teacher/coach, Bolsinger, in the spring of 2000. The victim was 16 years old at the time of the incident.
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NEW TWIST Jan 26 - Reported by Chris Conrad at the Mail Tribune: Bolsinger is currently the editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings. The Mail Tribune and the Daily Tidings are both owned by Ottaway Newspapers Inc.
Mail Tribune Editor Bob Hunter, who worked with Bolsinger on administrative issues relating to the Tidings, said Bolsinger has been suspended from his position as editor until the case is resolved. An interim editor has not been named.Jan 28, 2008 - Editor & Publisher (the Dutch-owned publication that is "America's Oldest Journal Covering the Newspaper Industry") on Bolsinger's arrest.
"We have no comment pending a resolution of the case," Hunter said. "We have no way of determining his guilt or innocence."
Bolsinger is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, five counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree custodial interference. First-degree rape is a Measure 11 crime that carries a minimum prison sentence of 8 years and 4 months upon conviction. First-degree sodomy carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 6 years and 3 months.
A person is charged with custodial interference if he or she takes someone away from his or her parent or guardian and leaves the state, or puts that person in serious risk of injury.
Bolsinger took over as editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings in July 2003 after spending three years working for a newspaper in Virginia.
In an interview with the Mail Tribune, he said he spent more than a decade in the Portland/Salem area prior to his move to Virginia. Before moving to Virginia, Bolsinger was a sports editor at the Stayton Mail near Salem.
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TWO CHARGES DROPPED Jan 31 - Bolsinger is free on $250,000 bail after prosecutors dropped the rape and sodomy charges. He still remains charged with five counts of sexual abuse. He has not yet been indicted. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb 7.
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FIRED Feb 5 - A grand jury indicted Bolsinger on four counts of second-degree sexual abuse last week (Feb 1). He was dismissed today.
The indictment was followed by news that numerous court judgments had been awarded against Bolsinger and his wife related to small businesses they operated in Ashland. Bob Hunter, editor of the Mail Tribune newspaper in Medford and one of Bolsinger's supervisors, said the criminal charges did not lead to the dismissal.
In Ashland, a businessman won a judgment after he claimed Bolsinger had failed to return a $25,000 down payment when a sublease agreement fell through.TT - They don't have background checks for editors?
The city of Ashland was awarded more than $10,000 by a court after Bolsinger's restaurant business failed to pay food and beverage taxes. Bolsinger also lost several other cases involving failure to pay business or personal debts.
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ARRAIGNED Feb 8 - Bolsinger was arraigned on four counts of second-degree sexual abuse. His next court appearance is Mar 14.
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NOT GUILTY PLEA March 15 - In court Tuesday Bolsinger pleaded not guilty. His next next court appearance is April 9.
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NEW INVESTIGATIONS March 15 - Bolsinger faces a criminal theft investigation over more than $100,000 allegedly missing from three failed Ashland businesses he co-owned. A grand jury is investigating and issued 80 subpoenas for financial records last week.
The sexual abuse investigation is ongoing.
filed court papers last month stating they intend to rely on "enhancement facts" and to seek consecutive sentences should Bolsinger be convicted on more than one count, court records show.
In that filing, prosecutors allege Bolsinger had "persistent involvement" with the victim, that the crime was a violation of public trust and that the alleged crimes were committed in separate episodes, court records state.
