Oregon Man Arrested for Kidnapping Two Women on July 4th

A sex offender in Oregon has been arrested, allegedly for cutting open a camping tent, abducting two women on a hiking trail, and threatening them with sexual assault almost two years ago, according to officials.

Gene Arnold McClennisan, 58, was taken into custody by the FBI last week. He faces charges of kidnapping and attempted abusive sexual contact after reportedly abducting the women from their tents in Tillamook County on July 4, 2024, around midnight. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon has confirmed these allegations.

McClennisan, residing in Salem, allegedly bound the women, covered their eyes, and threatened them before revealing he had a “razor-sharp knife.” He even told them their lives were “worthless,” as noted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat during his initial court appearance.

Interestingly, the women did not previously know McClennisan, and it remains unclear how they managed to escape. The details surrounding the traumatic event and how he was apprehended almost two years later have not been disclosed, with his federal charges still sealed.

This isn’t McClennisan’s first brush with the law. He has a history of sexual assault cases in Tillamook County, including a 1999 incident where he was arrested for breaking into a home and assaulting a female resident.

In 2000, he was convicted of two counts of sodomy and robbery after pleading guilty to a related crime.

A federal judge has ordered that McClennisan be held without bail while awaiting trial. If found guilty, he could face a life sentence for the kidnapping charge, along with up to 10 years for the attempted abusive sexual contact charge.

Authorities suspect there could be more victims and have encouraged anyone with further information regarding possible crimes involving McClennisan to reach out to the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or through their online tip submission system.