Terrence Bean, a prominent gay rights activist and abortion proponent, has been arrested for sexually assaulting a 15 year old boy.
The 66 year old was arrested on Wednesday by the Portland Police Bureau's Sex Crimes Unit at his home in Southwest Portland following a Lane County Grand Jury indictment for "alleged sex abuse involving a teenage boy in 2013," reports Portland news channel KOIN6. The indictment charges Bean with two counts of third-degree sodomy, a felony, and one count of third-degree sex abuse, a misdemeanor, police said.
Willamette Week first reported the arrest and said it stemmed from a six-month investigation that started with allegations that Bean was secretly recording men in his bedroom with a hidden camera.
Bean's attorney, Kristen Winemiller, claims that Bean has cooperated with the investigation, adding that her client is the "victim of an extortion ring'' by several men. She also stated that she hopes to soon "clear his name."
Although Lane County Chief Deputy District Attorney Patricia Perlow declined to release any further information about the case or the indictment, sources familiar with the investigation told KOIN 6 News they believe there may be more victims in the case.
According to terrybeanpolitics.com, Bean is a "pioneer" in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and co-founded the Human Rights Campaign, which promotes abortion. He also co-founded and raised millions for the Gay and Lesbian Victory fund, an organization which supports gay and lesbian candidates. Last year, he petitioned Congress to end all federal funding for abstinence education.
In 2008, then-Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski declared Aug. 23 to be "Terry Bean Equality Day" in recognition of his advocacy work since the 1970s.
Bean is also known as a "central figure in national Democratic politics," raising more money for President Obama's campaign than any other Oregonian. He also often hosted fundraising events in his Portland home for Democratic politicians including Bill Clinton and Al Gore
The AP reports that Bean's Flickr account shows him talking with Obama at several events, posing with first lady Michelle Obama and numerous other political figures, including former President Bill Clinton.
Currently, Bean is out of jail, posting 10 percent, or $5,000 of his $50,000 bail, according to jail records, but faces pending court date in Lane County, where Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Pete Simpson said the crimes occurred.
