PORTLAND, Ore. — A former Benson High School coach is accused of harassing two female students by subjecting them to unwanted touching.
Leon Donald McKenzie III, 46, was indicted by a Multnomah County grand jury on two counts of harassment. The crimes occurred in 2017 and 2018, when McKenzie was a coach at the Portland school, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. McKenzie coached track at Benson.
McKenzie turned himself in on Monday and appeared in court on Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the district attorney’s office, the investigation began earlier this year when the school principal called Portland police about allegations of misconduct involving McKenzie.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities ask any students or parents with information about McKenzie to call police.