Elgin man arrested on warrant for multiple sex abuse charges
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, June 29th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
LA GRANDE – An Elgin man was recently arrested by the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) on a warrant for multiple sexual abuse charges. At around 9:20 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 45-Year-old Joseph Leonard Ainsworth of Elgin (while already lodged in the County Jail) was arrested by a UCSO deputy on an active Union County Indictment Warrant for charges of Sex Abuse I and Sex Abuse III X2.
According to court documents, the warrant was initially issued on June 17, 2026, and refers to three separate offenses. The first count, dated March 1, 2018, involved a victim under the age of 14 and is listed as a Class B Felony. The second and third counts, dated August 11, 2019, involved a victim under the age of 18 and are listed as Class A Misdemeanors. Counts 2 and 3 involved the same victim but are classified as separate events in the documentation.
As of June 26, Ainsworth is still listed on the Union County Jail roster, with a bail set at $20,000.00 dollars. A plea hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on August 11, 2026.
