LA GRANDE — Law enforcement arrested a La Grande man on July 19, on a secret indictment warrant charging multiple felony level sex crimes against a minor.

Christopher Willingham, 37, was taken into custody on six counts of first-degree sexual abuse, one count of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse, according to Oregon public records. Sexual abuse in the first-degree and unlawful sexual penetration in the second-degree are both felony offenses.

All nine charges span multiple years, according to the indictment. The incidents reportedly occurred between January 1, 2022 to Sept. 23, 2023 and between Jan. 1, 2022 to May 9, 2024. In the seven felony counts brought against Willingham, the state alleges that the reporting party was under the age of 14 at the time of the contact.

The reporting party, a minor, was not named in court documents. Union County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Powers has prohibited Willingham from copying or disbursing any documents that name the reporting party, according to court records.

EO Media Group does not publish the names of individuals bringing charges in sex-crime cases.

Powers set bail at $25,000, according to court records. Willingham has been lodged in Union County Jail since his arrest and has not posted bail as of 9 a.m. on July 26.

District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel is prosecuting the case for the state. Willingham is represented by court-appointed counsel — La Grande attorney James Schaeffer. Willingham is due in court Aug. 19 for a plea hearing.