Teacher arrested on sex abuse charges
Teacher arrested on sex abuse charges
David Gilmore turns himself in Monday; resigns from posts at C. S. Lewis Academy and St. Paul Elementary schools
By Gary Allen, Newberg Graphic news editor
E-mail Gary at gallen@eaglenewspapers.com
A St. Paul resident and music teacher arrested on charges he sexually abused his daughter has ties to Newberg and is the same man that levied similar charges against a family friend in 2003.
David Gilmore, 40, turned himself over to Marion County Sheriff’s deputies in Salem on Monday and was formally arrested Thursday afternoon. The Newberg native and George Fox University graduate was charged with five counts each of first-degree sexual abuse and unlawful sexual penetration.
At the time of his arrest Gilmore was a part-time music teacher at St. Paul Elementary School. School officials said as a unlicensed contract employee, Gilmore wasn’t left alone with young students.
“Since he wasn’t certified ... he was in a classroom with certified teachers at all times,” said Bruce Shull, St. Paul school superintendent. Shull added that no allegations of sexual abuse of St. Paul students at the hands of Gilmore have surfaced.
Charges against Gilmore stem from allegations he sexually abused his 9-year-old adopted daughter at a number of locations, including at his St. Paul home. Gilmore and his wife have four biological children under the age of 10 and three children adopted from Russia.
An investigation is continuing into the matter, said Kevin Rau, a spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Rau added that Gilmore removed himself from his home several days before turning himself in and admitted abusing his daughter. Rau also said that although the investigation thus far has provided no indication of additional victims, detectives are interviewing Gilmore’s other students.
“In these investigations (it is) normal to investigate other possible avenues where he might have access to other possible victims,” Rau said.
Gilmore taught music nearly full-time at C.S. Lewis Academy.
“We are shocked and grieved regarding the arrest of David Gilmore,” said Wade Witherspoon, school adminstrator, adding that Gilmore resigned his position as music teacher effective Tuesday. “We have no reason to believe there were ever any similar acts committed in our school. His work with us was always in classroom settings with large groups of students.”
Gilmore also gave piano lessons in the Newberg and St. Paul areas. Gilmore resigned from his post at the St. Paul school on Wednesday.
“He called and said he would resign and I would know why soon,” Shull said. “(His resignation) was mutual.
“I had no (inkling), I was very surprised and ... obviously concerned about the kids and family.”
Shull said all of the Gilmore children of school age attend St. Paul schools. Shull distributed a statement Friday to parents of St. Paul students.
“It’s not something that happens every day in St. Paul,” he said. “This is a nightmare. We’ve never dealt with this before.”
In 2003 Newberg police, after interviews with Gilmore and his wife, arrested then 18-year-old Timothy Warrens on allegations he sexually abused one of the Gilmore’s daughters. Warrens, a friend of the family, was kept in jail for more than seven months and underwent jury trials in Yamhill and Washington counties. He was acquitted in both counties.
Warrens, who now lives in Nevada, has filed suit in federal district court claiming his civil rights were violated. Named in the suit are the city of Newberg, current Newberg detective Sherrie McQuistion, former detective Lt. Ken Summers of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, Greg Olson of the Washington County district attorney’s office, and Yamhill County’s corrections department.
The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages.