<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Melissa Bowerman</span></p>

The head track and field coach at Madras High School and former Condon-Wheeler volunteer coach is in jail on charges of sex crimes against a 17-year-old boy.

Oregon State Police announced troopers and detectives Monday arrested Melissa Bowerman, 43, at her home in Fossil and booked her into the Jefferson County Jail, Madras, on the following: second-degree sexual abuse; luring a minor; second-degree online sexual corruption of a child; and contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor. The last charge is a Class A misdemeanor in Oregon, and the others are Class C felonies.

State police earlier this month received a tip that Bowerman, who has coached at Madras High for two years since being dismissed from Condon/Wheeler, was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a juvenile male, according to the statement. An investigation identified the teen and found evidence that led to her arrest. State police alleged the unlawful conduct began in May.

The investigation is ongoing, according to state police, and detectives are concerned there have been other victims. The agency asked anyone with information regarding this case to call OSP Northern Command Center dispatch at 800-452-7888, which will give tips to the lead investigator.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office state confirmed Bowerman was at the jail in the late afternoon, but the booking process was not finished. Jefferson County District Attorney Steven Leriche said he anticipated Bowerman would face the charges in circuit court Tuesday at 1 p.m., unless she posted bond. In that case, the court would set out a date in the next two to four weeks for her appearance.

Bowerman, daughter-in-law of Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, volunteered from 2008 to 2012 as the coach of the Condon/Wheeler track and field team. In April 2012 she escorted a 17-year-old boy to the Condon High School prom. Condon School District officials investigated the incident and in May dismissed Bowerman from the volunteer position. Condon School District Superintendent Jan Zarate said at the time, there were some potential details that arose during the investigation, but she did not reveal those details.

Gilliam County law enforcement stated Bowerman had not committed a crime. Bowerman said no inappropriate relationship existed between her and any student athletes, and she said she was sorry for her an error in judgment in taking the boy to the dance.

The East Oregonian tried to reach her husband, Jon Bowerman, 75, but the phone line to their home was busy.

Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833.