5-Year-Old Sexually Abused By Septuagenarian: Police

WHITE CITY, OR — Earlier this month, detectives in Jackson County arrested a septuagenarian who'd been accused of sexually abusing a minor at an elementary school where he volunteered through a Foster Grandparent Program. On Friday, police announced a second victim had come forward.

Jerry Duane Lodge, 72, has been held in the Jackson County Jail since his arrest Dec. 8. A Jackson County grand jury previously indicted Lodge for sex abuse stemming from an incident involving a 5-year-old student at Lower Table Rock Elementary in White City.

The latest accusation, released Dec. 29, accuses Lodge of abusing a second child from the same classroom. That child's age has not been specified.

Lodge's volunteerism was reportedly arranged by Community Volunteer Network, a branch of Pacific Retirement Services — a Medford-based nonprofit that assists retirees in a number of ways, which includes providing opportunities for seniors to interact with their community. Lodge was part of a program that places seniors in classrooms throughout Rogue Valley, police said.

Lodge reportedly volunteered at McLoughlin Middle School and Kids Unlimited in Medford earlier in 2017, though no reports of abuse have come from either location.

Lodge was required to pass a background check in order to participate in the program, police said. His previous criminal history in Oregon only contains two traffic violations from 2007 and 2010, respectively.

When the allegations of abuse were first reported Dec. 6, Jackson County School District #9 and Pacific Retirement Services reportedly cooperated with authorities and immediately prevented Lodge from continuing his volunteer services.

District and school officials also reportedly held a meeting with parents, in coordination with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, following Lodge's initial arrest.

The investigation will continue. This post will be updated when more information is released.

Image via Jackson County Sheriff's Office