MILWAUKIE, Ore. -- The son of a a Milwaukie High School teacher arrested Friday for abusing three girls at the school said his father is being framed by gang members who are unhappy with him and seeking retaliation."
"If a teen knows, 'hey I can get a teacher kicked out if i just say this and this," said Hector Manuel Osuna-Bonilla Jr., "and if they're involved in gangs and if they have a bad conscience, I would think that they would do that."
Police and school district officials declined comment Saturday on what the son said about his father.
Milwaukie Police said 58-year-old Hector Manuel Osuna-Bonilla Sr., faced six counts of misdemeanor sex abuse and one count of attempted sex abuse. "This is absolutely unacceptable behavior by any employee, any teacher, anybody who works with kids," said Joe Krumm of the North Clackamas School District.
The criminal investigation started in December 2009 after students alleged possible sex abuse by Osuna-Bonilla. The North Clackamas district placed him on immediate administrative leave while police investigated. "He won't be back," added Krumm.
Osuna-Bonilla Jr., said his father was hired by the district in part to deal with gang issues. "He never hides anything from us, and so I know he's not guilty of any of these charges."
"Maybe some people out there in the public might not understand that," the son said. "They might just say, 'it's sex related stuff you know, teens don't lie' but teens do lie."
Detectives think the abuse took place on the Milwaukie High School campus over a one year period. In addition to that, they believe it happened during school hours. "It's a very frustrating thing for everybody involved," said Officer Ulli Neitch of the Milwaukie Police Department. "Chief of Police Bob Jordan and the Milwaukie Police Department consider the safety of the community's children paramount," she added.
According to the school's website Osuna-Bonilla taught math and physics to freshmen. Some of his students are shocked by the allegations. "It was really surprising because honestly I thought he was a cool guy, fun to have class with," said Jake Aleshire.
Prior to working at Milwaukie High School, Osuna-Bonilla was employed by Portland Public Schools and Portland Community College.
Investigators fear there could be additional victims. They are asking anybody with information to contact authorities or the school district.
