Tidings Editor Andrew Scot Bolsinger arrested on rape

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Andrew Scot BolsingerMarion County Jail

January 26, 2008

By Chris Conrad

Mail Tribune

The editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings was jailed Friday in Marion County for reportedly raping a 16-year-old girl in the spring of 2000 while working at a school in Brooks, near Salem.

A former Willamette Valley Christian School student contacted Marion County sheriff's detectives in September saying that Andrew Scot Bolsinger, 41, had raped her.

"She reported having a sexual relationship with Bolsinger while he was a coach and teacher," said Marion County sheriff's Cmdr. Jason Myers. "I can't discuss the details because the case is still under investigation."

Bolsinger, who lives in Phoenix, was arrested at the Marion County Sheriff's Office late Friday afternoon and lodged in the jail there.

He remained jailed late Friday, Myers said.

The Mail Tribune and the Daily Tidings are both owned by Ottaway Newspapers Inc. Mail Tribune Editor Bob Hunter, who worked with Bolsinger on administrative issues relating to the Tidings, said Bolsinger has been suspended from his position as editor until the case is resolved. An interim editor has not been named.

"We have no comment pending a resolution of the case," Hunter said. "We have no way of determining his guilt or innocence."

Bolsinger is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, five counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree custodial interference.

First-degree rape is a Measure 11 crime that carries a minimum prison sentence of 8 years and 4 months upon conviction. First-degree sodomy carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 6 years and 3 months.

A person is charged with custodial interference if he or she takes someone away from his or her parent or guardian and leaves the state, or puts that person in serious risk of injury.

Bolsinger took over as editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings in July 2003 after spending three years working for a newspaper in Virginia.

In an interview with the Mail Tribune, he said he spent more than a decade in the Portland/Salem area prior to his move to Virginia.

Before moving to Virginia, Bolsinger was a sports editor at the Stayton Mail near Salem.

He has not been employed by Willamette Valley Christian School since May of 2000, police said.

Anyone with information about the case can call Marion County sheriff's Detective Tyler Chapman at 503-566-6910.

Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail cconrad@mailtribune.com.

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