Richard Fellers Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges

Fellers was arrested Monday morning at his home in Oregon City, Oregon, and was charged with Second Degree Sexual Abuse.

The Tualatin Police Department released the following (edited) statement on Fellers’ arrest:

On Monday, June 7, 2021, at approximately 10:20am, Tualatin Police Detectives arrested Richard Rankin Fellers, 61 years of age, of Oregon City, stemming from an indictment for four counts of Second Degree Sexual Abuse.

Richard Fellers was arrested on four counts of Second Degree Sexual Abuse. Tualatin Police Department

Over the course of a long investigation, lasting several months, with witnesses in multiple states, Tualatin Police established that Mr. Fellers had a sexual relationship with a female victim who was 17 years old. Mr. Fellers was the victim’s horse trainer and the alleged crimes occurred at the victim’s apartment, located at Eddyline Apartments in Portland.

Mr. Fellers is an American equestrian who competed in the 2012 U.S. Summer Olympics and is a prominently known competitor/trainer in the equestrian industry. The original disclosure/information came from the US Center for SafeSport.

This is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time. Mr. Fellers was lodged at the Washington County Jail. 

The legal representatives of the alleged victim, Maggie Kehring, released the following (edited) statement, which she shared on Instagram:

(Oregon City, Oregon)—Richard Fellers, world-renowned equestrian and coach was arrested this morning at his home and stables in Oregon, the result of a year-long investigation and “allegations of misconduct”, which originated with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a governing body and sports watchdog group founded in 2017. 

Those allegations led to a cautionary move by the Center in February 2021 whereby Fellers and his wife, Shelley, were both placed on interim suspension prohibiting them from coaching or working with young equestrians. The case shifted from the Center and was presented for Grand Jury review. 

Kehring, who only recently turned 18, has remained largely quiet throughout the investigation and proceedings due to the far-reaching and consequential nature of the charges. At the outset of the proceedings, Kehring stated simply, “It is important to know this investigation and process has been underway for many, many months. I initially didn’t want to participate in the SafeSport process out of confusion and fear. I struggled with the thought the world would know that what occurred to me for many years would lead to someone America came to love (Fellers) to possibly be banned from the sport.”

Upon learning of the Grand Jury’s decision this morning, Kehring said, “Though there are things that happened to me that I can never get back, I am relieved and grateful to see that my truth, The Truth, was heard, understood and believed. The power in me has been restored by protecting others and ensuring that no one else will be scarred by this same experience. I am so thankful for the work the Tualatin Police Department and FBI have done on my behalf and the behalf of others in similar situations.”

Russel Prince and Michael Palma of the law firm Palma & Prince stated, “It is our mission to fight for the safety, protections and ethical outcomes for all athletic endeavors. We work as advocates for athletes, coaches and their families; it is all intertwined. If one piece of the wheel is not working, everyone suffers. We are grateful that Maggie Kehring’s unimaginable experience has been brought to light with these charges being filed, but the investigation will continue. Hopefully, Maggie can get back to the one thing she loves most—riding horses. In the meantime, Maggie will have no further comment and we would ask that her and her family’s privacy during this difficult time be respected.”

A call to Howard Jacobs, reported to be Richard Fellers’ attorney, was not returned by press time.

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