Former Rogue River School District teacher Jesse Orndoff pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to more than 30 charges related to alleged sexual abuse of a former student.

Bail was set at $500,000 by Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Paul Moser. Orndoff’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 25.

Orndoff, 30, faces 10 counts each of second-degree sex abuse, third-degree rape and third-degree sodomy. According to court documents, charges involve separate alleged instances that occurred between Dec. 1, 2021, and Nov. 30, 2022, all involving the same alleged victim.

The alleged victim reported the allegations to law enforcement last week, stating that it was perpetrated by her teacher and coach, Orndoff, while she was a student at Rogue River Junior Senior High School when she was between the ages of 15 and 17.

Orndoff, who most recently led the math and science departments for Rogue Christian Academy in Grants Pass, was arrested by Jackson County sheriff’s deputies on Friday. He appeared in court Tuesday afternoon wearing a blue jail jumpsuit and requested a court-appointed attorney.

Moser pointed out that the charges represented separate and distinct acts, and that each Class C felony carried a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

He told Orndoff, “I can read that indictment to you, or I can assume that you at least understand… and that you want to speak with an attorney about this.”

If Orndoff posts bail, his release would come with special conditions, including pretrial monitoring, no contact with minors and no contact with his alleged victim.

According to court records, Orndoff filed for divorce against former wife in 2022 during the timeframe in which the abuse is alleged to have occurred.

Contacted by the Rogue Valley Times, Rogue River School District officials and administrators for the Rogue Christian Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Charges against Orndoff are the second instance involving charges of a sexual nature between a teacher and student at the high school in Rogue River. 

Music teacher Jacob Vizcarra, who was 24 at the time, was sentenced to 30 days jail in 2016 for having a sexual relationship with a student. Vizcarra began a relationship with the student, according to various news reports at the time, weeks before her 18th birthday.

Vizcarra was ordered to register as a sex offender and serve two years’ probation following a guilty plea to charges of sexual assault and official misconduct.

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