SPRINGFIELD – A children’s performer was arrested on multiple sex abuse charges after Springfield Police investigated allegations involving a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old, with incidents reportedly occurring between Jan. 1, 2023, and June 9, 2026.
Patrick O’Neill, 62, of Springfield, who is better known by his stage name Corey O’Neill, was taken into custody on June 23, according to Springfield Police. He faces two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, two counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, and a charge of Unlawful Penetration.
O’Neill was a well-known performer, specializing in “bubble” shows in Eugene and Springfield, and he frequently entertained at local parks and events, including the Eugene Country Fair. He also provided babysitting services for various families in the area, according to SPD.
O’Neill was booked into the Lane County Jail. After posting a $25,000 bond, O’Neill was released on June 28 and is scheduled to appear in court on July 29 at 2:30 p.m., according to court records.
Anyone with further information or concerns about O’Neill’s potential contact with children is encouraged to contact the Springfield Police Department at 541-726-3721.
Bomb threat investigated at Gateway
Springfield Police responded to a bomb threat at Marshall’s clothing store in the Shoppes at Gateway on June 27 around 1:50 p.m., after a store employee received a call from an unknown suspect claiming a bomb had been placed inside the store. Police said that employees evacuated the store as police arrived, and the University of Oregon Police Department’s explosives-detection K-9 team was requested and responded to the scene. The K-9 team cleared the store before shoppers were allowed to return. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
