Detectives arrested a Lebanon man on July 18 for sexual abuse of a minor.
Lebanon police arrested Johne Michael Griffith, 28, on charges of second degree sexual abuse, third degree rape and third degree sodomy. On July 19, the district attorney’s office filed charges of six counts of second degree sexual abuse for accounts that allegedly occurred at different locations in one year’s time.
The Lebanon Police Department issued a statement that the investigation stemmed from an historical disclosure of inappropriate contact. The female victim in this case was a minor at the time who was known to Griffith.
LPD said in-house records indicate they have had contact with Griffith for another sex crime in 2018. Linn County Court records indicate Griffith in 2018 pleaded no contest to second degree sexual abuse (of a minor). In 2019 he pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to report as a sex offender.
United States justice determines suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
This is still an active investigation and police urge anyone with regarding this case to contact Lieutenant Ryan Padua at 541.258.4325.