Oregon sheriff’s sergeant accused of lewd conduct with Idaho boy

PORTLAND – Authorities say a sheriff’s sergeant from suburban Portland has been arrested on accusations of sexual misconduct involving a teenager in Meridian, Idaho.

Sgt. Michael Alexander of Lake Oswego turned himself in Friday and was booked into the Canyon County Jail on charges of lewd conduct with a minor younger than 16 and enticing a child through use of the Internet.

Police in Meridian say Alexander met a 15-year-old boy through the dating app Grindr and traveled to Idaho to have sex with him twice last year.

The boy’s mother contacted authorities after discovering inappropriate text messages on his phone.

Sheriff Pat Garrett of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office learned of the investigation Monday and placed the 45-year-old sergeant on unpaid administrative leave. Alexander’s job status remained the same Friday.