Celebrated Portland jazz teacher indicted for alleged inappropriate contact with students

Thara Memory with his American Music Program band at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival in Gresham in 2013.

 TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

A celebrated, Grammy Award — winning Portland jazz teacher, Thara Memory, was arraigned Monday morning, accused of inappropriate contact with students and misdemeanor sex abuse.

Memory, who is 68, was indicted on 11 separate counts, mainly accusing him of inappropriate contact with female students' mouth, cheek or breast between 2013, and 2016. He pleaded not guilty.