A Jefferson County school maintenance worker who has parented dozens of children was arrested last week on suspicion of sexual abuse of a family member.

Michael John “Mike” McCoy is facing five counts of first-degree sex abuse and five of third-degree sex abuse.

Third-degree sex abuse is a misdemeanor, but first-degree sex abuse is a felony and falls under Oregon’s Measure 11 mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines for serious crimes.

McCoy is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Officials are asking for additional information because McCoy worked around children at his job with the Jefferson County School District, and because he and his wife have served as foster parents to many children, including many with special needs, since 1998.

McCoy allegedly disclosed an illegal relationship to his counselor, who contacted the Oregon Department of Human Services.

A report was then made to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, which dispatched Det. Jason Pollock to interview McCoy at the Madras home he and his wife have shared with more than 60 biological, adoptive and foster children.

Pollock was at the home when McCoy got back from work, Pollock wrote in a probable cause affidavit filed Monday. During an interview, McCoy told the detective he’d been having marital problems for the past three years. Pollock said McCoy admitted to some abuse against a member of his household.

Pollock writes that he pressed McCoy for more information.

“Michael told me I was right that he was not being completely honest,” Pollock wrote in his affidavit. “He said he was like an ‘onion’ and I had to peal one layer at a time back and he was not ready to talk about all of what happened.”

According to a 2007 profile in The Bulletin, McCoy and his wife, Linda, have housed more than 50 foster children over the years and have eight adopted children and four biological children.

“Mike always dreamed of having a large family,” the article states. “Although the couple finds it difficult to spend time alone together, Linda said she couldn’t picture a better marriage.”

A call to McCoy’s attorney, Casey Baxter, was not returned Wednesday.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com