GRESHAM, Ore. (KATU) — A high school teacher in Gresham was indicted on multiple child sex crimes following an undercover online sting operation.
The investigation started back in December 2024 after an undercover police officer in Bothell, Wash., who was posing as a 13-year-old girl, began communicating with 36-year-old Oscar Armando Ramirez of Portland.
The chats took place over four days, during which Ramirez is alleged to have engaged in lewd conversation about acts he wanted to perform on the “teen.” Also during the chats, investigators said Ramirez also shared that he taught 9th-11th graders.
Eventually, Ramirez and the undercover officer arranged to meet when the “teen’s” parents were out of town.
Bothell Police notified Portland Police about the interactions. PPB officials then notified the Gresham-Barlow School District and Ramirez was placed on leave.
Portland Police began investigating and notified the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. On June 3, 2025, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Ramirez on three counts of felony luring of a minor and one count of felony second-degree online sexual corruption of a child.
On Friday, June 6, officers with the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), and a K9 unit arrested Ramirez outside of his home in Southeast Portland.
So far, authorities say their investigation has not revealed any crimes involving any of Ramirez’s students or other children.
This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about this case, or any information about crimes Ramirez has committed, is asked to contact Detective Nathan Moore at nathan.moore@police.portlandoregon.gov.
A spokesperson for the Gresham-Barlow School District issued the following statement on this case:
Earlier today, Oscar Ramirez, a social studies teacher at Gresham High School, was arrested by the Portland Police Bureau. He was charged with 3 counts of Luring a Minor and 1 count of Online Sexual Corruption of a Child.
The police have informed us that there is no evidence that GHS students were involved.
Mr. Ramirez is a social studies teacher employed in the Gresham-Barlow School District in the fall of 2021. When he was hired, the required fingerprinting and background checks completed by the district did not reveal any criminal record.
The District was first notified of the investigation on December 6, 2024. The District immediately placed Mr. Ramirez on administrative leave. Because this was a police investigation, we could not share this information at that time. We have remained in contact with the police since they informed us of this situation.
Now that we have been notified of his indictment and arrest, we will follow our human resources protocols related to his employment.
Since news of this nature is difficult for any school community, the district will provide counseling support to the Gresham High School community as needed.
The GBSD cannot provide further information about the teacher now; however, it will continue cooperating fully with law enforcement.
