Coaches accused of sex crimes appear in court

Two men accused of trying to contact and meet underage girls for sex during a law enforcement sting last month were arraigned in Clark County Superior Court on Tuesday, according to court records.

Jeffrey James Graham, 51, of Milwaukie, Ore., pleaded not guilty Tuesday to communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Another defendant, Sean Stirling Dotson, 50, of Forest Grove, Ore., entered not-guilty pleas to communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and attempted third-degree rape of a child.

Graham was a Rex Putnam High School assistant softball coach for the 2014 and 2015 seasons, The Oregonian reported last month. North Clackamas School District spokesman Joe Krumm told The Oregonian that before he was arrested, Graham was expected to coach again this spring.

Dotson is a former Banks, Ore., youth soccer coach, according to The Oregonian. He reportedly coached a soccer team for girls under 14 years old, and last coached in spring 2015.

The men were arrested Jan. 14 at a house in east Vancouver after responding to online ads placed by undercover police officers, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

Graham’s trial is scheduled to begin July 11, court records show, and Dotson’s trial will begin April 25.