John Parks, the former Lake Oswego High School track coach, was arrested Saturday after police say he showed up on campus despite a court order keeping him off school district property. Lake Oswego officers charged Parks with second-degree criminal trespass and booked him into the Clackamas County Jail, according to police records. The arrest unfolded during a sporting event at Lake Oswego High School, adding another twist to a months-long legal fight between Parks and the district.
Police say Parks was spotted at the event after being told not to set foot on district grounds. A parent told reporters they heard him make derogatory comments about a transgender student-athlete. As reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, officers arrested Parks on suspicion of second-degree criminal trespass and booked him at the Clackamas County Jail. The investigation remains active, and police say they will forward the case to prosecutors for charging decisions.
Judge Weighs In On Parks' Free Speech Fight
Parks filed a federal lawsuit in 2024 claiming his termination violated his First Amendment rights and seeking reinstatement. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon denied an immediate reinstatement order but wrote in a November 2024 opinion that Parks’ May 15 email "falls within protected speech," according to the court's opinion posted on govinfo.
Summary Judgment Battle Still Unresolved
Earlier this year the Lake Oswego School District and other defendants filed motions for summary judgment arguing Parks’ firing was justified by his conduct and job performance. Parks’ attorneys filed responses opposing those motions in late February, filings that are available online via the Liberty Justice Center, which represents Parks. The civil case remains active in federal court in Portland while the parties await rulings.
How A Single Email Sparked The Conflict
Parks drew public attention after sending a May 15, 2024 letter to the Oregon School Activities Association proposing an "open" division for transgender athletes, which prompted complaints and an internal district probe. Earlier reporting and court filings describe allegations that Parks made critical remarks to a student at a competition and that the district elected not to renew his coaching contract, as reported by the Lake Oswego Review.
What A Second-Degree Trespass Charge Could Mean
Criminal trespass in the second degree is defined under Oregon law as a Class C misdemeanor (Oregon Public Law). State guidance and municipal court pages note that a Class C misdemeanor in Oregon can carry up to 30 days in jail and fines up to $1,250, depending on local practice and sentencing, which is typical for offenses in this category. Whether the charge leads to prosecution, diversion or dismissal will be decided by Clackamas County prosecutors as the investigation proceeds.
The criminal case will move ahead at the county level while Parks’ civil suit continues on the federal docket in Portland, where motions remain under review, according to filings from the Liberty Justice Center. The arrest is likely to factor into public attention and the ongoing legal fight over school policy, discipline and the participation of transgender athletes in competition.
