Douglas Burnham, 71, sent to prison for molesting boys

By Steve Mayes,

Douglas John Burnham's long history of sexually abusing boys in his care came to an end Monday.

Clackamas County Circuit Judge Douglas Van Dyk sentenced Burnham to 12 1/2 years in prison. Burnham pleaded no contest to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse for molesting his adopted son's child and another boy.

Burnham adopted an emotionally troubled 9-year-old boy through Oregon's child welfare agency in the 1970s and molested the child for years. He was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse in 1983 and received probation.

Burnham's attorney pleaded for a lesser sentence, noting that Burnham is 71, in poor health, spends most of his time in the Clackamas County Jail's medical ward and has been on suicide watch.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chris Owen said Burnham didn't deserve a break. "I know the defendant is elderly ... (but) he should not get a senior discount."

Owen said Burnham's adopted son lived a life marked by mental illness, crime and poor choices. The man was homeless and desperate when he asked Burnham to care for his 7-year-old son.

Van Dyk, unswayed by Burnham's physical and psychological condition, said the Milwaukie man deserved the maximum sentence.

"He lived his life as a predator and children have suffered in extraordinary ways" as a result, Van Dyk said. Burnham picked victims who were vulnerable and easily manipulated, the judge said.

A third victim, the grandson of Burnham's girlfriend, began abusing younger kids and was convicted in juvenile court of sex crimes involving two small children.

The victims did not attend the sentencing and Burnham did not make a statement. He trembled, folded his fingers together and bowed his head as Van Dyk spoke.

Burnham claimed that as a child, he had been abused by a priest and a neighbor, according to a psychologist who interviewed him.

As Burnham sat in a courthouse hallway waiting for a ride back to jail, he lamented to a deputy guarding him, "I'll be 81 when I get out."

In fact, Burnham will be 83 when he is released.