A 17-year-old at the center of sexual abuse allegations against
Oregon gay rights activist Terry Bean has gone into hiding with his
mother and stopped using his cellphone to avoid testifying at an
upcoming trial, prosecutors said.
The trial is set to start on Aug. 11, but prosecutor Scott Healy
requested a delay as authorities try to find the teen and serve a
subpoena.
Lori Deveney, the boy’s attorney, previously told prosecutors her
client had agreed to a financial settlement with Bean and did not want
to testify. A judge, however, rejected the deal and ruled criminal
charges should be pursued.
,,,
Charges could be dismissed if the teen doesn’t testify. If that
happens, the judge could allow the state to refile charges against the
66-year-old Bean and his former boyfriend, 25-year-old Kiah Lawson, at a
later date.
Bean and Lawson are accused of sexually abusing the boy at a Eugene
hotel in 2013 when he was 15. Prosecutors said the teen was paid $40 for
the encounter.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to two counts of sodomy and one count of sexual abuse.
Derek Ashton, Bean’s attorney, said he opposes any continuance of the case.
Teen in Terry Bean sex abuse case has gone into hiding – LGBTQ Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment