Note: This story contains descriptions of sexual assault. If you or someone you know may be a victim of sexual assault, confidential support, information and advice are available at the National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 800-656-4673. Text chat is also available online.
The state of Oregon has settled with alleged abuse victims of Edward G. Edwards, a former pediatrician at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn.
The lawsuit alleged that Edwards molested multiple teenage boys while working for the Oregon Youth Authority. Lawyers for the plaintiffs also said that multiple executives at the Youth Authority had received warnings of Edwards’ alleged abusive behavior, and they failed to act.
The main building of the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, Ore., on Nov. 6, 2025.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
“For decades, every youth who arrived at MacLaren was required to have a medical intake exam with Dr. Edwards,” attorneys said in a September court filing, “usually alone, behind closed doors, and without any warning of the danger they faced.”
Marja Martinez, a spokesperson for the Youth Authority, said the agency could not comment on the settlement because of other ongoing litigation.
She said the agency has instituted multiple reforms in recent years, including quick investigations into complaints and mandatory training for all employees.
The details of the settlement have not been released. Peter Janci, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said his firm will be able to release some facts in the coming weeks. The plaintiffs originally sought $51 million.
Edwards started working at the Oregon Youth Authority in 1977.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys said in court documents that OYA received multiple reports from youth and staff detailing concerns about Edwards in the 1990s and 2000s.
The pediatrician refused to wear gloves while touching the genitals of children for several minutes and barred chaperones from examination rooms, the letters alleged.
No official at OYA or MacLaren conducted any additional investigation based on the concerns, according to the filings. Oregon State Police investigated abuse claims against Edwards in 2007, but did not find “enough prosecutorial evidence.”
OYA professional standards investigator Jason Barber later said the allegations were “unsubstantiated,” according to court filings.
A Marion County grand jury investigation released last December found that MacLaren had a series of “cascading failures,” and that sexual assault and abuse were some of the most pressing concerns.
Related: Report: Oregon’s largest juvenile justice facility has systemwide failures
“The issue of sexual abuse in a closed custody facility is expansive in scope and complexity,” the report reads. “It needs further and deeper investigation than this grand jury can meaningfully address. However, to ensure the safety of youth in MacLaren, allegations of sexual abuse must be promptly and thoroughly investigated and resolved in a timely manner.”
Edwards died in 2025, before the lawsuits were filed.
There are six more active lawsuits concerning Edwards’ alleged abuse. Janci said the other lawsuits are still proceeding toward trial, for the time being.
“We think this is an important milestone in these cases,” Janci said. “We’re very proud of our clients for coming forward and speaking up about what happened to them.”
Janci said the state has so far not offered a settlement on the other six lawsuits.
“We’re still litigating all the other cases and we have trial dates, and we’re going to continue to push the cases towards trial,” he said. “It’ll be up to the state whether they decide that they want to resolve the cases or not.”
Related: Youth in Oregon juvenile justice system filed 956 complaints in 2025
