By Rebecca Woolington
The Oregonian
March 29, 2011
http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2011/03/former_valley_catholic_high_school_tennis_coach_gets_nearly_two_years_in_prison_in_child_pornography.html
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| Christopher Rijken |
The case: A tennis coach at Valley Catholic High School on May 18 was arrested on charges that he took nude pictures of an underage girl.
Christopher Rijken, 27, of Beaverton, was arrested on charges of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and encouraging child sexual abuse and was lodged in the Washington County Jail.
Rijken convinced a teenager to remove her clothes while the two were in the vicinity of the Portland Rose Garden near the Oregon Zoo, according to an affidavit filed in Washington County Circuit Court. The affidavit, filed by Beaverton police, says he told the girl to lift up her shirt.
When she questioned him, the affidavit says, he told her she had to do what he asked. She then removed her clothing, the affidavit says, and Rijken took pictures.
Rijken reportedly burned two CDs of the pictures and gave one of them to the girl. The affidavit says Rijken gave his laptop, iPhone and external hard drive to a friend.
According to the affidavit, he told police that the sexually suggestive photos were taken in the woods behind Catlin Gabel School.
Rijken's MySpace page said he worked as an assistant head coach at Valley Catholic and as a sales associate at Nike. His MySpace page also said he formerly worked as a receptionist and instructor at Tualatin Hills Tennis Center.
Update: A Washington County Grand Jury on May 25 indicted Rijken on four counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and four counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, according to court records. Using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct is a Measure 11 crime that carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years and 10 months.
As part of a plea agreement, Rijken last week pleaded guilty to one count of attempted using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and two counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, said Washington County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Barton, who prosecuted the case. His other charges were dismissed.
Sentence: Rijken was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, with three years post-prison supervision, Barton said. As part of his supervision, Rijken must undergo sex offender evaluations and treatment.
Rijken also may not use computers or cell phones with computer capabilities, Barton said, and is not allowed to have contact with the victim or minors. He may not frequent schools or work as a teacher, coach or in any other capacity with children under his supervision, Barton said.
Rijken will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
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