Bedridden 67-year-old man, assistant face charges in Oregon sex abuse probe

NEWPORT, Ore. -- A 67-year-old bedridden man is accused of sexually abusing live-in caregivers who he and his assistant found on Craigslist.org, KPTV in Portland reported Wednesday.

The news station said Newport police began an investigation July 9 into sex abuse allegations involving Mahlon "Mel" Blose, 67, of Newport.

Investigators said Blose's assistant, Ronald Flinter, 46, would find potential caregivers online and offer them room and board and a phone as salary.

Blose is accused of inappropriately touching the caregivers and forcing them to inappropriately touch him in a sexual manner under the threat of being fired and thrown off the property if they didn't do as they were told, according to Newport police.

Detectives said Flinter would also spy on the caregivers while they were in their own private residence on the property and watch them "as they were engaged in intimate private acts."

On Sunday, Newport police, assisted by Lincoln County deputies, served a search warrant at Blose's property.

Officers seized multiple computers, photos and cameras. Police said they found published child pornography, evidence of trading child pornography and multiple pornographic photos and negatives.

Due to Blose's health condition, he was issued criminal citations and released at his home instead of being taken to jail, KPTV said.  He is facing charges including first-degree sex abuse, subjecting another to involuntary servitude, trafficking in persons, conspiracy and harassment.

Flinter was arrested and booked in the Lincoln County Jail on charges of invasion of personal privacy, subjecting another to involuntary servitude, trafficking in persons and conspiracy. His bail was set at $400,000.