The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Steven Gage was arraigned on 22 additional counts of sex abuse and criminal mistreatment on Monday, June 26 at the Deschutes County Courthouse in Bend.

Gage was arrested on June 2 and charged at that time with 45 counts of sex abuse and criminal neglect, including two counts of rape.

According to Assistant District Attorney Kandy Geis, Gage now faces 67 charges in an amended indictment.

Deschutes County District Attorney Mike Dugan has also asked the Oregon State Police to investigate the finances of Royal Haven Equestrian Center, the home for "troubled girls that Gage operated with his girlfriend, Karen Lee outside of Sisters between 1994 and December, 1999.

Lee was charged with seven counts of criminal mistreatment on June 2. She was also in court on June 26, with her indictment amended to include additional charges, according to investigators in the courtroom.

According to OSP Detective Tom Kipp, additional victims came forward after the initial arrest and their allegations led to the additional counts. Twenty of the counts are related to alleged sexual abuse; two deal with alleged criminal mistreatment.

Gage is due to file a motion for pretrial release on July 6. both Gage and Lee are set to enter a plea on August 7.