City of Gresham, OR
07/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/14/2026 16:39
Sex abuse suspect pretended to be child, participated in youth events
Gresham Police are asking for help from the public after arresting an offender who was posing as a child and participating in youth basketball events.
Beginning in May 2026, Gresham Police investigated multiple reports regarding 20-year-old Ethan Bohanan's interactions with children. Investigators learned Bohanan had, over the course of multiple years, presented himself as a 14-16-year-old emancipated minor. At times Bohanan claimed to be enrolled at various local middle schools. During that time, Bohanan played in youth basketball events, received youth supportive services, and engaged in sexual relationships with multiple children. Bohanan continued to claim he was a juvenile when contacted by police.
In June, Bohanan was charged with sex crimes and physical assaults against multiple child victims, and crimes relating to the unlawful use of a firearm. Investigators have located evidence Bohanan committed physical and sexual assaults of additional children, who have not yet been identified by law enforcement. Bohanan's victims are likely not aware of his true age.
Detectives have been in contact with local school districts, sports leagues, and youth services organizations. They have not found any evidence Bohanan formally enrolled in any Multnomah County school or competed in district-run sports; however, Bohanan is known to have participated in events organized by local nonprofit leagues and organizations, which rent space at local schools. Bohanan is known to have had contact with children across Multnomah County.
Police are asking anyone with information about Bohanan's conduct to contact Detective Lindsay Friderich at 503-618-3128 or [email protected].
Additional information on the prevention, reporting, and investigation of sexual abuse in youth sport is available through the US Center for SafeSport. The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as the nation's safe sport organization. The US Center for SafeSport can be reached at 833-5US-SAFE (833-587-7233) or USCenterforSafeSport.org.
City of Gresham, OR published this content on July 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 14, 2026 at 22:39 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]