On Monday, 18-year-old Jordan Teeter, of Imbler, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape in the first degree and was sentenced to 45 months in the Department of Corrections, which will be served at the Oregon Youth Authority, a juvenile detention center.

Teeter, who recently received his high school diploma, according to Teeter’s attorney Bob Moon, will also have to register as a sex offender and will serve 75 months of post-prison supervision after his release. Additionally, he will not be able to have any contact with any of the five victims who brought charges against him.

Teeter was originally arrested May 19, 2017, according to court records, and was detained at the Walla Walla Detention Center. His mother posted $15,000 bail and he was released to his parents.

Teeter had been indicted for sex crimes involving a total of five victims, all minors, with different offense dates occurring in August, September and December 2016 and January and March 2017, according to court records.

While Teeter was originally charged with three counts of first-degree rape, unlawful sexual penetration, two counts of sex abuse and three counts of third-degree sex abuse, per a resolution agreed upon by both Moon and Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Kristen Hoffmeyer, Teeter pleaded guilty only to charges that were filed based off of information prior to his 18th birthday. Those charges concern only one of the five victims.

The reason for this resolution, agreed on by Hoffmeyer, the victims and their families, is to permit Teeter to be physically housed at the Oregon Youth Authority so that he may have access to more comprehensive sex offender treatment. Because he was charged as an adult, he will officially be in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

One of the victims told The Observer in a written statement, “I want to say that even though this isn’t nearly enough time for the damage (Teeter) did to myself and four other girls, I am ready to put this in the past and move forward with my life.”

For the most part, the consensus among families of the victimes, while angered over Teeter’s actions, hoped that he receives the help and support he needs.

The father of one of the victims said that he has known Teeter and his family for several years.

“We don’t have hatred for you,” he said, adding that “an adult prison is the wrong answer.”

Another father stated that he doesn’t have nearly as much forgiveness in his heart, even if he does feel for Teeter and his family. He stressed how much Teeter’s actions have affected his daughter’s life.

Teeter read this statement to the victims: “I know that I have manipulated you, was sexually aggressive, ultimately was disrespectful of your feelings and boundaries you set. I know that I did hurt all of you very deeply. I regret what I’ve done. I’m grateful for the opportunity to get treatment so I can fully understand what I did to you and how I hurt you and how I can make changes to make certain nothing like this ever happens again. I hope you can find the strength to forgive me for what I’ve done.”

Moon said that although Teeter will be out of a facility at the age of 22, he will be forever listed as a sex offender.

“This is not a light sentence to me,” Moon said.

Presiding Judge Thomas B. Powers thanked the victims and their families for their time and statements.

“Anything I attempt to say to Mr. Teeter would absolutely pale in comparison to what we heard from individual victims and their family members,” the judge said.

Referencing the recent Larry Nassar case in the Midwest where 180 former and current athletes accused the gymnastics doctor of rape, Powers applauded the advocacy and support shown for the victims of Teeter’s crimes.

“All the survivors here need to be commended,” he said. “Number one for your courage, your courage stepping forward and going through what had to be brutally painful, talking to your family and friends about this. Speaking up today. And for your persistence for staying with this imperfect process.”

After the sentencing, Powers said nobody wins.

“Nothing is normal for anyone after this. I hope you can move on and this gives some degree of closure.”