Coach accused of sex abuse; former stepdaughter comes forward
MILWAUKIE, Ore. – A Portland man was arrested on multiple counts of sex abuse after police said he abused a teenage girl he coached in youth sports.
Detectives in Milwaukie first started investigating Garry Allen Clausen, 47, in April after receiving a tip about the abuse, according to Uli Neitch with the Milwaukie Police Department.
On Wednesday investigators arrested Clausen on eight counts of sex abuse. Police said the victim was a 16-year-old girl.
Police also believe there are other victims. They are in the process of interviewing some of those potential victims and want any others to step forward.
Clausen has at various times coached several youth sports teams. He was president of Mount Hood Little League and also has coached youth baseball, softball, basketball and football.
Neitch said Clausen coached the victim in either basketball or football.
Investigators served a search warrant at Clausen's Southeast Portland home on Thursday.
The sex abuse charges are felonies. Under Oregon law, sex abuse is always a felony when the perpetrator is the victim's coach.
Former stepdaughter comes forward
A young woman, who is the former stepdaughter of Clausen, called KATU News Thursday night, saying she endured sex abuse at the hands of Clausen for nearly a decade. Chelsea Tobler said she called KATU because she wanted to tell other abuse victims it's okay to come forward.
Clausen is not charged with abusing Tobler but Milwaukie police confirmed they are investigating her allegations.
“I trusted him because I was seven when we first met. And when I turned nine it just kind of changed,” Tobler said.
She said she wants nothing to do with Clausen. Now that he's in jail, the next time she sees him may be in court.
"He shouldn't get out, because he's just going to keep on doing the same thing over and over again," Tobler said.
She said her story of abuse began two years after Clausen married her mother.
"He would come in my room at night and touch me in very inappropriate places," she said.
She said the abuse lasted eight years and as recently as last summer. But other adults didn't believe her claims. And as it continued Tobler said Clausen eventually looked to others.
"When I was going to join softball he didn't like the other coach, so I think he just used that as an excuse just to get to be a coach on an all girls softball team," she said. "With other people he seemed to be very touchy, kind of flirty, but the way he did it was more hidden, but he kind of got the point across that he had an interest."
That behavior around young girls was noticed by other adults when Clausen was president of the Mount Hood Little League and is partly why Milwaukie police are concerned they may find other victims.
"I don't want any other girls in the same situation," Tobler said. "That's exactly why I'm doing this interview is to let everybody know. If you're a girl and you've been exposed to this then do it. Speak out. You shouldn't be afraid."
Clausen is being held in the Clackamas County Jail on $150,000 bail.
Anyone with information about the case can call Milwaukie Police at (503) 786-7446
If this was my daughter this SOB would be dead!
I am very proud of my daughter being the FIRST to report this piece of crap to police back in April.. I was with her when we walked into the police station.. Gary has always been thought of as a "creep" but only because of his constant lies about his military background and company dealings.. I never like him..
I can hardly believe that just two summers ago I spent fourth of July with this man enjoying fireworks and burgers with close friends. This utterly shocks and confuses me, Chelsea is a friend of a friend and you would have never known this is what was going on behind closed doors. I feel for her and hope she can recover from this. Gary Clausen... get help.
 @Stephanie3 now you know what he really was enjoying at the party, and it wasnt the burgers
There's just not enough electricity to fry all the freaks that are in the news these days.
Remember those older Christmas tree lights with the screw in bulbs ? Well...line these guys up, hook them up to their penises, Light them up......may take a long jolt to finish them off, but still a good show...LOL
Way to be a leader Chelsea Tobler! It takes courage to speak out and I hope others are inspired to not be afraid.
any adult male who wants to coach an adolescent-girls sports team is suspect, in my opinion. Â If an adult has a child on the team, then that's a little less suspect, but as soon as his kid isn't involved in the team, he should resign as a coach... if not, he'd be an idiot to put himself in the position of even being suspect. Â even if your kid IS on the team thats a bit strange, and again, only a total moron... or pedophile, like this clown, would keep coaching. any parent is ALSO an idiot if they didn't pick up on their daughters' creepy coach.
arnold  .....sill in stupid world....go back to your bong...brainless moran......
 @arnold Some pedophiles amongst us all are really, really good at hiding their true motives and activities from everyone, so don't bash parents for "not seeing".
Yeah, because no male coach has ever abused a boy. Oh, wait a minute...
 @arnold If all males had your attitude we would not have very many girls sports team since 90% are coached by men. Many get involved in it with their kids and then continue doing it after they grow up. Most are great people who like to make a difference in kids lives, some are just ego maniacs, and sadly a few are perverts but likely no more then we have teaching the kids in school.
@FreedomRocks @arnold Don't be so hard on him. I think I know what he's getting at. Stone me if you want to, but we all know how young girls can be. I'm not saying that's the case here at all...but there have been instances where guys have been wrongly accused, sent to prison with a record they won't ever get rid of, and then years later, the girl (s) come forward saying they lied. That happened recently...can't remember the guy's name.
So I think what he's saying, a guy would have to be stupid for taking on that kind of job knowing the pitfalls that can come along. It is afterall his word against theirs. I'm curious though....how is it that not one of those people she told believed her? I doesn't say how many...but someone must have taken to heart what she was telling them. They need to be in trouble too...as anyone who has a child that tells them something like this and decides to ignore it.
Â
 @FreedomRocks  @Bewitchin1Â
really?! you two think the kids are to blame? or that the kids are mad and pressing false charges? you two have no idea what it is like to be one of these girls and have people say this trash! this is the kind of thing that makes it hard for girls to come out and say something when things do happen. These girls did have something bad happen and they are in no way at fault!
@FreedomRocks But it does happen.
 @Bewitchin1  @FreedomRocks It is not that hard to insure you always have another adult and/or multiple kids present to avoid those extremely rare cases where a mad kid tries to ruin your life.
This comment has been deleted
 @HarryJuku  @arnold Sexist idiot are we?
hang him!
The DEATH PENALTY would make these ^%#^*'s think twice......... I know if someone hurt my child it would be the only acceptable option.
 @BurnOut No it wouldn't. Look at all the murders in prison on death row. Obviously the death penalty made no difference in any one of them carrying out their crimes.
CASTRATE......  CASTRATE......CASTRATE......CASTRATE......CASTRATE......CASTRATE......CASTRATE......
 @Glenn Pierce Castrate does no good. Since it is a brain thing, so it takes a Lobotomie.Â
 @Glenn Pierce Sex abuse has to do with power/domination/degradation so castration doesn't fix the problem at all., since there are any number of ways to sexually abuse a victim.
Castration doesn't stop sex-abuse.
It's a sad thing when an adult doesn't believe the claims of a child when they say they are being abused.
Â
I feel for Chelsea Tobler and I hope she has been unable to work past the awful things that were done to her.
The only positive of all this is kids are starting to come forward. The more come forward and are believed, which is a big thing, the more slime gets taken off the streets.
Another day,another pedophile.
This news isn't shocking. There have been many "RED" flags when it comes to Gary Clausen! He was allowed to coach youth sports even after many knew of his problem with drugs, lies about him being a ex navy seal, him talking about committing suicide and no experience in coaching. I have even heard he was caught stealing from the Mt Hood Youth Baseball League. Why was he allowed to continue coaching there? Many people knew and complained about his behavior and nothing was done. If people would have done the proper background checks or believed some of the complaints maybe this wouldn't have happened. Shame on the board members of the Mt Hood Youth and Milwaukie Football Youth programs for not doing the proper background checks and stopping this guy from having access to our kids!!!
@Disgusted I tried to warn others to get him out a few years ago but others (his friends) let it go. Yes he was stealing. He passed a proper background check every time, I know I did a few checks on him when I was there. You are correct he claimed to be a Navy Seal, and when that was investigated it proved to be a lie. He is a con artist and has never spoken the truth once in his life. Do not blame all board members, when we were there we tried, he ran us all off with his BS.
@Concerned I'm so sorry if what I said implied that it was everyone on the board. I believe it was only the ones on there that were also friends with him. Some of those people on the Milwaukie board were also involved with him in the Mt Hood board. I don't believe they knew what he was doing to these poor girls, but there were many, many other red flags when it came to this jerk that should have stopped him from being able to coach any kids. He may have passed a background check, but that tells me they are not as detailed as they should be.
I do not believe Milwaukie board knew at all, he is a smooth talker. Yes the "new" board are mostly all Gary and Davids friends with an exception of one and they knew of his game, they ran out the good honest members, just could not take it anymore and it is so sad for the league and the kids. I don't know if the league can ever recover from all the damage and bad rep the league endured since his taking over. I knew a long time ago he was bad news but people just refused to see it and wanted to believe in him and his BS. Makes me sick and I feel horrible I was not able to do more about him. You could write a book about all the schemes, manipulation, and cons he was part of. It floors me how some people could not or refused to see right  through him.
It just doesn't cease!
Here we go agin.
Never trust a grown man with a "soul patch."
Â
Seems as though there are many in ALL walks of life that are attracted to minors for their own sexual satisfaction.....We do not want to convict this guy just yet though, remember the teacher in Caltsop County that was dragged before the media and the grand jury refused to indict after the DA did not want to proceed....Lets wait and see.
@FreerideNOT No need to wait, those that know him can tell you it is all true and more.
That's an intimidating look in the photo. I don't think he'll be the "bride" in prison. But this fool is old enough to know better.Â
Coach, priest, teacher accused of molestation.
Â
In other news, the sky is still blue.
nice job of reporting oh4FS much better than katuÂ
From a better news source.....an actual story
Â
Clausen is accused of sexual involvement with a 16-year-old girl who played for a Mt. Hood Little League softball team he coached last year. He is charged with eight counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The incidents occurred in 2011. Clausen coached in the Southeast Portland sports league for about seven years, said David Barrett, league president. "I'm not shocked," said Barrett when he learned of Clausen's arrest. Barrett said that he and other coaches were concerned with the relationships between Clausen and some of the girls on his team. "It was an uncomfortable vibe ... nothing you could put your finger on," said Barrett, who was once one of Clausen's close friends. "There weren't any complaints," Barrett said. The coaches "didn't think it was right the way he interacted with some of those girls," he said. Clausen was told last season that he would no longer be allowed to coach in the league, Barrett said.
@oh4FS Big problem is that Barrett was his good buddy and knew what he was doing for years don't let him fool you. He could have helped stop this a long time ago.
@Concerned did you ever contact police or at the very least notify the parents of the girls to express your concerns?
At the time we created a special quarum to address the allegations made by the girl. The persident at the time indicated the parents had been spoken to. It is complicated and would love to discuss it with you just don't want to do it over the Internet. You seem to know me or at least people from the league so if you want to call me, e-mail me, Â or find me on facebook and send me a message we can chat more about that specific inciden and other signs that led to what is news today. But like I said he sould have been tossed from the league then and there. I was the miniority in that incident and was out voted. I know at least one other person from that quarum are regretting their decision now.
@Concerned Although I don't believe Barrett knew of the sexual abuse, I do know he was aware of ALOT of the other stuff. Mt Hood and Milwaukie needs to look at who the Pres. of these boards are and do some cleaning!!!!
Channel 12 is reporting another, a 3rd victim stating they spoke with her father. http://www.kptv.com/video?clipId=7650329&autostart=true
Â
My contacting police wouldn't give them any more than they already have. If it would I wouldn't have a problem at all. Exactly, I smell civil suits on the way, he should have been removed and not allowed anywhere near the league back then. I hate the expression but "I told you so" is all I can say now, I tried to no avail. Can't turn back the clock but I am sure now there are several that wish they could.
@Concerned Wow, I can't believe that they could look past all of that. Karma will get them! Have you thought about contacting the Milwaukie Police? I would hope they would be interested in what you know. If I was one of those poor girls parents I'd be going after everyone legally. How could those people put kids in such danger and say they are there for the kids!! I do remember all the texting he used to do. He would just all over the kids about not doing it and then they would see him doing it. I don't know any of them who had any respect for him, but like you said they wouldn't go anything about him. Pretty sad that kids, not adults, were the ones who stopped him. Now...watch those people who should have done something all start pointing fingers at everyone else and trying to safe their asses. Again NOT doing the right thing.
Um.... not being rude or anything but yeah he did and he sure knew about the non-stop texting to young girls he also knew there was a complaint made against Gary by a girl about inappropriate text messages and still had his back, that got swept under the rug. There is a lot you have no clue about and it is pretty ugly. Those two have done a lot of pretty horrible things to a lot of good people (nothing to do with sex abuse) just saying he is cold and not the innocent, in the dark guy he is portraying.