GRANTS PASS, Ore. (Apr. 14, 2026) — A school support staff member in Grants Pass has been arrested following a grand jury indictment in a sexual abuse investigation involving multiple elementary school students, authorities said Tuesday.
The Oregon State Police said Joseph Deley, 64, an educational assistant at Highland Elementary School, was taken into custody Tuesday morning without incident and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.
The investigation began Feb. 6, 2026, after authorities received information about potential sexual abuse involving a female student. According to police, investigators later identified three additional female student victims connected to Deley, with incidents dating back to the 2018, 2022 and 2024 school years, for a total of four alleged victims.
The case was referred to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office. On April 9, a Josephine County grand jury indicted Deley on six counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information related to the case to contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-664-4600 or dial *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone, referencing case number SP26-042392.
The investigation remains ongoing.
All suspects are believed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
