Milwaukie teacher charged with sex abuse
Could face felony charges, according to Multnomah D.A.
Christopher John Klitgord
submitted photo / Clackamas Review
The 29-year-old Milwaukie High School teacher arrested last week had his charges upgraded to two sexual abuse felonies, with the potential for more charges at a grand jury hearing that took place Tuesday.
Christopher John Klitgord, 29, of Portland, was arrested on Tuesday, March 31, on allegations that he sexually abused a 16-year-old girl.
According to court documents, the charges stem from a relationship Klitgord had with one of his students.
North Clackamas School District Superintendent Ron Naso said the family of the victim came to the district offices Tuesday to talk about the alleged abuse, and district officials handed the information over to Milwaukie police.
The student told police that she had a crush on Klitgord, but that nothing happened between them initially. She said that in January of this year, she was at Klitgord’s apartment in Portland when they kissed for the first time.
She said that in February she and Klitgord had sex twice at his apartment.
The girl agreed to work with police. She called Klitgord, telling him police wanted to talk to her about allegations that they’d been sexually involved.
Klitgord told her to deny everything and not to sign any affidavits from police and asked if she’d erased everything he’d sent her, such as text messages.
According to the court documents, during the phone call Klitgord said, “I’m afraid they might go to my apartment and search it and find something. I’m basically going to throw away my computer, throw away anything I have from you… I'm worried about my roommates saying that, you know, obviously they knew we had sex”
Police arrested Klitgord as he was leaving his apartment. He was held at Multnomah County Jail, but posted bail and was released last week.
Klitgord has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
According to Milwaukie Police, there is no immediate information that Klitgord had similar relationships with other students, however the Milwaukie Police Department is conducting an investigation and asks that anyone who has information regarding this case or other potential victims contact police at 503-786-7500.
The grand jury was convened Tuesday, after the Clackamas Review and Oregon City News went to press. Check clackamasreview.com for updates.