Oregon’s chief administrative law judge, John Michael Mann, appeared in Washington County Circuit Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse.
A Washington County grand jury indicted Mann on the felony charges on April 7, according to court records made public Tuesday.
Mann, 56, was arrested Monday and is currently being held in the county jail on $200,000 security. His arrest and charges were first reported by the Oregonian/OregonLive.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Chris Colburn ordered Mann to not have any contact with the victims in the case.
As chief administrative law judge, Mann oversees more than 60 administrative law judges who hear disputes about actions of state agencies against people and businesses.
A spokesman for Gov. Kate Brown said Mann is on unpaid administrative leave.
According to the indictment, Mann “unlawfully and knowingly” possessed, accessed or viewed a “visual recording of sexually explicit conduct involving a child,” and he allegedly intended to publish, disseminate or sell the pornography.
Each of the 10 charges involves a separate act, transaction and file name that allegedly took place between June 11, 2020, and Aug. 7, 2020, according to the indictment. File names included the names of children and references to an 8-year-old, a 4-year-old, a 5-year-old, and sexual terms, including “anal.”
Under Oregon law, the felonies carry the possibility of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Oregon State Bar’s Disciplinary Counsel’s Office plans to open an investigation, spokeswoman Kateri Walsh confirmed Tuesday.
Mann and his spouse divorced last month, court records show, with his spouse gaining sole custody of their child.
Mann’s spouse also is listed as one of the witnesses who testified before the grand jury.
OPB was unable to reach either for comment.
“These are incredibly serious allegations,” Charles Boyle, spokesman for the governor, said in a statement. “While I can’t comment on the specifics of an ongoing criminal investigation, I can confirm that we have directed his placement on unpaid leave.”
Mann has served as an administrative law judge since 2003, and Brown appointed him chief judge in 2017.
