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EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon gay rights activist Terry Bean pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Eugene to sex abuse charges involving a 15-year-old boy.
His lawyer, Kristen Winemiller, previously said Bean is the victim of an extortion ring.
KGW reports (http://bit.ly/1vQyMfY) Winemiller said the group involves his ex-partner Kiah Lawson.
The 66-year-old Bean and 25-year-old Lawson were arrested last month and accused of sexually abusing the teen last year at a Eugene hotel. Lawson also has pleaded not guilty.
Bean is a Portland real estate developer who helped to found two national political groups, the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. He has been a major contributor for several Democratic presidential candidates.
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Information from: KGW-TV, http://www.kgw.com/
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