Lake Oswego Swim Coach Found Not Guilty on Sex Abuse Charges

A Linn County jury says not guilty to all six sex abuse counts against the Lake Oswego man.

Salem-News.com

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Lake Oswego swim coach Don King has been found not guilty of sexual abuse charges related to his alleged touching of girls on his Lake Oswego High School team.

All six counts against Mr. King were dropped when the Linn County jury returned their not guilty verdicts Thursday.

George Eder, a deputy district attorney in Linn County, reportedly said, "The evidence was squarely presented to the jury."

"The jury took the time to think hard about it and consider it carefully, and in the end it's the jury's decision to make."

Society is sensitive to sex abuse of children, but it is equally sad when an individual is put through public scrutiny and charged with a crime that a jury ultimately finds they did not commit. At this point this seems to be the story of Don King.

There are sex abuse charges still pending against Mr. King in Clackamas County, Oregon. It is not known exactly what bearing the Linn County jury's not guilty verdict will have on the other case or if it will at all, but it seems to speak well for a person accused of such serious crimes.

66-year old Don King was arrested after parents complained about his behavior, and an off-duty detective with a video camera taped him at a swim meet in Albany.

Albany Police arrested King in June, 2007 and charged him with 2 counts of first-degree sex abuse, two counts of first-degree attempted sexual abuse and 4 counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

During the trial a videotape was shown of King having contact with girls that a detective called "disturbing."

KGW reports that King he maintained that any touching lacked sexual intent and was brief and inadvertent. They also quote his defense attorney, Rich Cohen, say that King's contact with the girls -- some as young as 13 -- was "grandfatherly affection."

School officials in Lake Oswego told reporters they will not automatically reinstate King to his job, they do however plan to conduct an independent review.

"The school district standards about what's appropriate and not appropriate are not the same as a court of law," said Superintendent Bill Korach. "It could be a matter of judgment rather than a crime." KGW reported.

It was also reported that Lake Oswego High School Athletic Director Dave Lovelin had called King a dedicated coach. He was hired in 2001 and was responsible for about 75 high school boys and girls on the school team.