A Multnomah County judge denied bail Thursday to Yonathan Ortiz, a 20-year-old former employee of Childswork Learning Center, as investigators described concerns that more children may have been harmed at the Southeast Portland preschool. Ortiz faces charges including first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse, using a child in the display of sexually explicit content and luring a minor, according to court documents. The charges stem from allegations involving a 4-year-old student at the preschool’s Cherry Blossom campus on March 30, 2026. Ortiz has not been convicted, and the allegations have not been proven in court. Portland police Detective Nathan Moore testified at Thursday’s hearing that eight other students had been referred to a child-abuse victims organization after parents spoke with them about Ortiz. Moore characterized their responses as concerning. Deputy District Attorney Mihnea Moga said at least two of the children are likely to be added to the case as victims. According to court filings, the first child’s parents brought her to Randall Children’s Hospital and reported that Ortiz had shown her pornography and sexually abused her at the preschool. Prosecutors say the child later described the incident in two interviews and said it occurred near the school’s cubbies. Detectives who searched Ortiz’s phone that night found a photograph that police say showed him sexually abusing another 4-year-old girl on the same date. Investigators later contacted that child’s parents; the girl was unable to describe what had happened, court records say. Her parents spoke at Thursday’s hearing opposing Ortiz’s release. Ortiz was arrested Sept. 28, about six months after the alleged incident. Childswork terminated him after its initial findings in March and reported the allegations to state authorities, Portland police said. Moore testified that Ortiz had worked at the preschool for two years as a substitute teacher and teacher’s aide, after previously volunteering there as a high school student. Investigators initially believed he had not been alone with children, but later learned he ran an after-school program where he was often by himself, Moore said. Moga said prosecutors believe the alleged abuse may have followed an ongoing pattern and that investigators are still trying to identify possible victims. He said his office does not plan to offer Ortiz a plea deal. Police and prosecutors are urging Childswork families to speak with their children and contact Portland police with questions or concerns.