Music teacher at nonprofit organization charged with raping student

OREGON CITY, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - A former music teacher at an Oregon nonprofit was arrested Thursday on charges of sexual abuse, rape and kidnapping.

According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, detectives began investigating 44-year-old Derek Douglas Reeder in early 2026 after learning about an alleged inappropriate relationship with a child he met in the summer of 2023 while teaching music at the nonprofit organization.

Detectives said Reeder communicated with the child over text messages and Instagram before allegedly sexually abusing the victim “on multiple occasions,” according to the sheriff’s office.

After Reeder’s employment with the nonprofit ended in 2024, detectives learned he also owned a business teaching guitar and acoustic music in downtown Oregon City called Slinky Strings. The sheriff’s office said Reeder teaches people of all ages at the business.

Reeder was indicted by a Clackamas County grand jury earlier in August on two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, second-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and giving marijuana to a person under 18.

Reeder is being held without bail in Clackamas County Jail. Detectives said they believe he may have had more victims.

Anyone with information about possible criminal activity connected to Reeder is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 503-723-4949.