Man arrested in abuse, prostitution
Published 5:00 am Thursday, August 16, 2012
A former Bulletin employee has been accused of sexual interactions with at least one underage girl and a prostitute.
Kevin O’Connell, 35, was arrested and jailed Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of second-degree sexual abuse and prostitution. He was released shortly thereafter.
O’Connell recently left The Bulletin when his position as classifieds manager was eliminated.
Second-degree sexual abuse is sex without consent or sex with someone under 18 who therefore cannot legally give consent, and is a Class C felony. Prostitution, which is engaging in sexual contact for a fee, is a Class A misdemeanor.
According to a search warrant affidavit, Traci Donaca — human resources director for The Bulletin’s parent company, Western Communications Inc. — contacted Bend police on Aug. 6 to report that she had found a list on O’Connell’s work computer that detailed his sexual relationships, including those with underage girls and a prostitute.
O’Connell asked to take personal files off of his work computer when he was terminated Aug. 6, but Donaca refused, the search warrant affidavit states. Donaca told O’Connell she would get the documents from his computer and forward them to him.
When she accessed the personal files on O’Connell’s computer, she found a document called “Conversion Log” — a spreadsheet with an “extensive list of approximately 70 names of women, and dated back to the year 2002.”
The list, according to the affidavit, included names, birth dates and other personal information about the women, as well as a column detailing O’Connell’s sexual experiences with the women.
Included in the list, Donaca told police, were at least six girls who were 17 years old or younger at the time of the reported sexual contact.
According to the affidavit, the spreadsheet also allegedly contained information about O’Connell’s sexually transmitted diseases and which women he’d transmitted them to.
The final entry, according to the affidavit, was from July 19 and noted that O’Connell had sex with a prostitute.
Another list, entitled “Priority,” listed women O’Connell planned to pursue. Pornographic photos were also found on the computer.
Bend Police Detective Eric Hagan said a thorough investigation of the computer has not concluded, and O’Connell could face more charges once the investigation is complete.
Hagan said police examining the computer have only confirmed O’Connell’s interactions with one minor and one prostitute, although there may be more.
O’Connell, who could not be reached for comment, is due in court Aug. 30.