A convicted sex offender is accused of cutting into the tent of two women camping near a public trail in Tillamook County, covering their eyes, binding them and threatening to sexually assault them.
Gene Arnold McLenithan Jr. made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Portland on Thursday afternoon on charges of kidnapping and attempted abusive sexual assault in the alleged July 4, 2024 assault.
FBI agents arrested McLenithan Thursday morning.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo ordered McLenithan, 58, of Salem, held in custody pending trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat said the victims did not know McLenithan.
He said he had a bag of razor-sharp knives, threatened to sexually assault the women and told them “it’s not worth” their lives after he broke into their tent around midnight, Rochat said.
In 2000, McLenithan was convicted of two counts of sodomy and burglary in Tillamook County, according to court records. In that case, prosecutors said he forced his way into a home in Otis in May 1999 and sexually assaulted a woman. His guilty plea in that case followed his arrest in connection with a series of alleged sexual assaults in south Tillamook County.
The federal complaint against McLenithan remained sealed in federal court. It’s unclear exactly where the attack occurred in Tillamook County. Prosecutors, the FBI and the county sheriff’s office all declined to pinpoint the location.
If convicted, the kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and the attempted abusive sexual contact charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to the prosecutor.
Investigators suspect there may be other alleged victims in western Oregon and ask that if anyone else has information on McLenithan, that they contact the FBI at 503-224-4181 or submit a tip online.
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