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Last updated on Wednesday, May 7, 2014
(SALEM) - A former Washington County Commissioner who was convicted of six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor will be sentenced today at 1 p.m.
Judicial Officer John T. Evans will preside over the sentencing.
The alleged acts involving a family friend who was under the age of 16 occurred in February 2013 on Goering's Maple Syrup farm on Garrison Hollow Road.
A jury returned guilty verdicts on all six counts after approximately four hours of deliberation on April 10. Goering was arrested in March 2013 on five counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, and one count of attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, all Class B felonies.
Police began investigating the allegations after the girl and her family reported the crime on March 5, 2013. Goering's Attorney Mark Dove argued Goering didn't know the girl was under the age of 16.
The two families first became acquainted in 1988, when the young lady's mother was hired to help the Goering family with housework. The minor and members of her family also helped with the Maple Syrup Festival at the farm.
Goering served as Washington County commissioner from 2001-09, and running on the Republican ticket. He also previously served as county engineer and was the county's solid waste director at the time of his arrest. He was suspended from that position, without pay, pending the outcome of the legal process.
The Goering Maple Syrup farm was one of the largest producers of maple syrup in the state and continues to host a maple syrup festival, which attracts thousands to the Eastern Washington County farm. The festival was canceled this year.
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