Female Counselor Gets 30 Days in Sex Case

(Klamath Falls, Oregon) In January 2006, a 33-year-old substance abuse counselor, Naomi Morton, was arraigned before Judge Richard Rambo in Klamath County Circuit Court for alleged sexual abuse of a 17-year-old boy she counseled.

According to court records, Morton met the boy through her work with the Issues Project, a drug, tobacco and alcohol prevention program that contracts with schools. She subsequently got drunk with him and they had sex.

Morton pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual misconduct, three counts of contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor and three counts of sex abuse.

On Tuesday (1/9/07), Morton reversed herself and pleaded guilty to having sex with the boy on three occasions. As a result, Klamath County Circuit Court Judge Cameron Wogan sentenced Morton, now 34, to 30 days in jail and 18 months of no contact with minors and probation. Judge Wogan also ordered her to register as a sex offender.

Oddly, Morton's attorney, Phil Studenberg took issue with the requirement to register as a sex offender because Morton is "clearly not a predator" and registration will prevent her from continuing to work in the counseling field. Excuse me! As a youth alcohol counselor, Morton used alcohol with a youth and had sex with him. Presumably, her job was to discourage youths from drinking alcohol, not get drunk and screw. Sounds to me like she ought to change careers anyway -- with or without registration as a sex offender.

Morton's two children will be with relatives while she does her 30 days in the county jail.