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Man accused in rapes `seemed like a decent guy,' former boss says By Jessica Smith of the Mail Tribune Michael Huyck was a quiet man who kept mostly to himself. He was a hard worker and a dependable guy who loved his son. That's all a former employer and landlord know about the man police say sexually assaulted six women in Medford, Ashland and Klamath Falls since 1997. Huyck, 34, remained lodged in the Jackson County Jail late Friday on 23 sex charges. His bail has been set at $6 million. "He seemed like a decent guy," said Jim Clem Jr., owner of Colt Security, a Klamath Falls company that employed Huyck for about a year. "He lived for his son. He'd even take my boy out swimming with them sometimes. I didn't see anything wrong with it." Clem said Huyck's son, who apparently lives in the Medford area with his mother, visited Huyck on weekends in Klamath Falls. Huyck left Colt Security and Klamath Falls sometime in late 1999, Clem said. He moved to Medford and in mid-December, he found a home with Gene and Tilly Haag at 700 Nobility Drive. "This guy (Huyck) came to us and inquired about a room. I talked to him a bit and he sounded OK to me," said Gene Haag. The couple rents rooms in their large home to people who "want to help themselves," he said. Haag said some boarders have criminal records, including sex offenses, but that all are hard-working men who are trying to straighten out their lives. "(Huyck) seemed to need help, and that's what we were trying to do," Haag said. "I just felt he was a guy who was down on his luck who needed a hand." About a week ago, after searching daily for work, Huyck apparently landed an interview with Action Security in Medford. The company provides parking patrols for Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport. Donald English, Action owner, said he ran a background check on Huyck to ensure the applicant was state licensed for security work and found nothing criminal in his past. In fact, before Huyck was hired by Colt Security in Klamath Falls, his fingerprints were run by the FBI and the state Board on Public Safety Standards and Training, Clem said. "That was all checked out and everything was fine. No priors, no nothing," Clem said. But a two-week investigation that began with a tip to Ashland police ended Wednesday when officers arrested Huyck at the Oregon State Police headquarters in Central Point. He was charged with five counts each of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree kidnapping, three counts each of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual penetration with a foreign object, and one count of first-degree sodomy. Klamath County has charged Huyck with two counts each of rape and kidnapping, both in the first degree. Police said they have DNA evidence that links four rapes in Medford, Ashland and Klamath Falls and other evidence that points to Huyck as the attacker. He also is suspected in two attempted rapes locally. A Jackson County grand jury is set to review the case against Huyck Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney John Bondurant said. A grand jury hearing in Klamath Falls also has been scheduled. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA