Pretrial conference for Jesse Rex Orndoff continued to July 28; authorities have said there may be additional alleged victims

Former teacher Jesse Rex Orndoff appeared in court Monday morning as part of pretrial proceedings for a criminal case in which he faces 16 felony sex abuse charges involving a former Rogue River Junior-Senior High School student.

Orndoff was arrested on Valentine’s Day by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies one day after the former student reported to law enforcement that she had been the victim of sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by her teacher and coach, Orndoff, when she was between the ages of 15 and 17.

Orndoff, 30, was originally arraigned on 30 counts — 10 each of second-degree sex abuse, third-degree rape and third-degree sodomy — but a Feb. 20 convening of the Jackson County Grand Jury resulted in the 16 updated charges.

Orndoff pleaded not guilty in late March to 12 second-degree sexual abuse charges; two counts of first-degree online sexual corruption of a child; and one count each of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct and luring a minor.  

The dozen counts of second-degree sexual abuse, according to court documents, included numerous instances in which Orndoff “did unlawfully and knowingly subject (the victim) to sexual intercourse, the said (victim) not consenting thereto.” 

On two counts of online corruption, court documents state Orndoff used “an online communication to solicit a child to engage in sexual contact and/or sexually explicit conduct” and took steps to meet with the victim. On the single count of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct, court documents state Orndoff “did unlawfully and knowingly employ, authorize, permit, compel or induce (the victim), a child, to participate in or engage in sexually explicit conduct for a person to observe, record in a photograph, record in a motion picture, record in a videotape or record in a visual recording.”

The single count of luring a minor states that Orndoff did “unlawfully and knowingly furnish to or use with a minor a visual representation, an explicit verbal description or a narrative account of sexual conduct, for the purpose of inducing the minor to engage in sexual conduct.”

Appearing before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Christine Herbert on Monday, Orndoff was in court for only moments before he was asked to stand. He did not speak.

Orndoff’s attorney, Eric Fornier of Grants Pass, sought a continuance to allow for time to review evidence in what he called a “very, very serious case with a lot of discovery.”

Orndoff, who lives in Selma, worked as a teacher for schools in Jackson and Josephine counties for much of the past decade. He no longer works at Rogue River Junior-Senior High School but was most recently employed with the Rogue Christian Academy in Grants Pass.

Sheriff’s officials said both schools are cooperating with the investigation. According to the website for Rogue Christian Academy, Orndoff led the math and science departments for the school.

Orndoff is currently free on bail while he awaits trial. His bail was set at $500,000 by Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Paul Moser. With Orndoff out of jail, he would have needed to post a 10% bond.

According to court records, Orndoff filed for divorce against his former wife in 2022. 

Continuance of the pretrial conference was set for 9 a.m. July 28 before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell.

Investigators said they believe Orndoff may have additional alleged victims. If anyone has information related to this case, contact Detective David Seese at the JCSO Tip Line 541-774-8333. 

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or buffy.pollock@rv-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.