Three newly filed lawsuits are shedding more light on a horrifying pattern of sexual abuse committed against children in Oregon’s youth correctional facilities. Filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, the lawsuits accuse three former Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) employees of sexually abusing incarcerated youth at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility in Salem and Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility in Albany.
These cases are the latest in a growing number of lawsuits that reveal how the State of Oregon repeatedly failed to protect the children in its custody.
The Allegations
Scott J. Scrabeck, a corrections officer, is accused of sexually abusing three teenage girls between 1999 and 2008. The abuse allegedly included groping, forcing the girls to touch him, and masturbating while watching them shower. One survivor reported that the abuse occurred “dozens” of times. Despite multiple incidents, Scrabeck remained employed until 2023.
Alex Blevins, a group life coordinator at Oak Creek, allegedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl approximately ten times between 2009 and 2011. Although the victim reported the abuse to the Oregon State Police in 2011, there is no record of meaningful action being taken. Blevins was not fired until 2014 after additional complaints from coworkers.
Robert L. Blacksmith, a former staffer at Hillcrest, is accused of groping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in a blind spot near the isolation room between 2001 and 2002. The suit claims Blacksmith used his authority to intimidate the victim into silence. Blacksmith was later convicted in a separate child sex abuse case and sentenced to over 15 years in prison.
The lawsuits allege sexual battery, civil rights violations, and negligence and seek over $25 million in damages.
A Pattern of Abuse and Institutional Failure
These new filings come alongside a fifth lawsuit against the state involving Dr. Edward Gary Edwards, the former chief medical officer at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility. Edwards is accused of sexually abusing at least 51 boys during his decades-long tenure. The total claims in those lawsuits now exceed $250 million.
These cases show a devastating pattern: repeated abuse by state employees, ignored or concealed reports, and a failure to remove predators from positions of authority. Even when complaints were raised, the institutions responsible for protecting these children often looked the other way.
The growing number of lawsuits has prompted the Marion County District Attorney to convene a grand jury to investigate the conditions at MacLaren and how complaints of abuse have been handled.
Our Commitment to Survivors
At Ross Law, we believe every child has the right to safety, dignity, and justice—especially those in state custody. These brave survivors stepping forward are exposing not just individual predators but also the systemic negligence of the institutions that protected them.
Attorney Jeremiah Ross is committed to holding state agencies and public officials accountable when they fail to protect vulnerable children. We stand with survivors, and we will continue to fight for justice on their behalf.
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse in state custody, contact Ross Law at 503.224.1658 for a confidential, no-cost consultation. We are here to listen. We are here to help.