An Oregon man is facing charges after police say he drugged his daughter’s friends during a sleepover at his Lake Oswego home.
According to Lake Oswego police, 57-year-old Michael Meyden is facing numerous felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly drugging three of his daughter’s friends. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment Wednesday at Clackamas County Circuit Court, Oregon Live reports.
The alleged incident happened in August 2023 after Meyden’s 12-year-old daughter invited friends over for a sleepover. The children, according to court documents, watched movies and did facials before Meyden offered them mango smoothies.
The girls told investigators that Meyden “insisted they drink them,” although the drinks had “tiny white chunks throughout and sprinkled on top,” a probable cause affidavit states.
Meyden then allegedly made multiple trips to the basement where the girls were sleeping, and at one point placed his finger under a girl’s nose to check if she was asleep. He’s also accused of adjusting one girl’s arm and repositioning her on the bed.
The girl “stayed awake out of fear that Mr. Meyden might do something” to her friend, as per the affidavit.
One girl told police that “she could feel him watching her by his presence as she kept her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.”
Another victim said she felt uncomfortable and sent her mother a message, pleading to be picked up, the New York Post reports.
“Mom please pick me up and say I had a family emergency. I don’t feel safe. I might not respond but please come get me (crying emoji), Please. Please pick up. Please. PLEASE!!”
The victim’s parents also contacted the other girls’ parents and when they arrived at around 3 a.m. to pick up their daughters, Meyden was hesitant to let them go, the affidavit states. He subsequently relented at the parents’ insistence.
The children were taken to the Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland, where all three tested positive for benzodiazepine.
Investigators noted that one of the girls had “walked slowly and used the assistance of her mother for balance, her eyelids were heavy, and she spoke slowly.”
The victims told investigators that Meyden had been incessant about being a part of their activities and planning their sleeping arrangements.
Meanwhile, Meyden’s attorney insisted that the defendant should be presumed innocent, although the lawyer reportedly acknowledged that he hadn’t seen all of the evidence yet.
“Mr. Meyden is presumed innocent and we hope that people will reserve judgment until all of the facts and circumstances are known,” attorney Mark Cogan said.
Meyden faces charges that include causing a person to ingest a controlled substance and the application of a controlled substance to the body of another person.
His bail has been set at $50,000.
Court records indicate that Meyden and his wife were divorced but both are listed as owners of the Lake Oswego home.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
