18 more men sue over alleged sexual abuse by ‘Dr. Cold Fingers’ at Oregon youth prison

Two more suits were filed Tuesday adding another 18 men who allege a

former youth prison doctor

sexually abused them in his medical clinic when they were boys in custody.

The suits, filed against the state of Oregon and former Oregon Youth Authority directors and superintendents of MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, allege former

Dr. Edward Gary Edwards

abused the boys between 2002 and 2016, fondling their genitals for his own sexual gratification.

They also contend Oregon Youth Authority ignored staff reports about the alleged sexual abuse, fostering a “culture of silence,” where a perpetrator was “shielded.”

The plaintiffs in the two new suits are only identified by their initials, and now range in age from 28 to 39.

There are now at least five civil suits pending stemming from Edwards’ alleged abuse. The latest suits bring the total number of plaintiffs alleging sexual abuse by the doctor to 39 so far.

Edwards, who died in February at 87, worked at the youth prison for more than 40 years and was responsible for the intake exams of all boys, said attorney Peter Janci, who filed the suits along with attorneys Paul C. Galm and Kendall M.H. Spinella.

He was dubbed, “Dr. Cold Fingers,” because he routinely groped boys with his ungloved hands, according to the suits.

“So many of our clients tell us that at the time of the abuse, they were so young, they didn’t know any better,” Spinella said. “They didn’t know Dr. Edwards’ treatment of them was sexual assault, molestation and abuse. Some of our clients expressed that OYA didn’t help them like they promised to.”

The lawyers who have filed the claims said they anticipate filing additional suits in the future. They said they’ve spoken to several former Oregon Youth Authority employees as part of their investigations.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to do the right thing, and sometimes people find it easier just to do nothing at all,” Galm said. “We’ve got to change that. We’re hoping to change that with these lawsuits. But it’s also incumbent on the state and OYA to change that within their own organization so the next time they do the right thing.”

Will Howell, a spokesperson for Oregon Youth Authority, declined to comment on the pending litigation.

In a notice to youth authority staff Wednesday, interim director Jana McLellan alerted them of the new civil suit involving MacLaren’s former doctor, Edwards.

“During his years at OYA, Dr. Edwards interacted with many youth. We will likely continue to see suits like this filed, with new groups making similar claims about Dr. Edwards, and when possible, I will always try to alert you before you see it in the news. Our work continues,” McLellan wrote.

The youth authority, in recent written updates to county juvenile departments and judges, said it has safety protocols in place now during medical visits. Under its policy adopted in October 2022, an assigned nurse must be present in clinic exam rooms during youth visits with a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Nursing staff also must have another staff member present when examining a youth’s genital or breasts. Cameras also capture the hallway outside all exam rooms.

The youth authority oversees about 900 youths and manages nine locked facilities, including MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility.

Gov. Tina Kotek in March

fired longtime Oregon Youth Authority Director Joe O’Leary

after records showed the agency had failed to review investigations into an estimated 3,000 abuse complaints spanning seven years and that investigations had not been completed in another 733 cases dating to 2018. The former chief investigator of the authority’s Professional Standards Unit resigned in February shortly after the backlog was discovered. In May,

the interim director of the Oregon Youth Authority reported

to lawmakers that the backlog of open older cases stood then at 508.

— Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X


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