Springfield bubble performer arrested on child sex abuse charges

Springfield police arrested well-known bubble performer Patrick O’Neill, who also used the name Corey O’Neill, and booked him into the Lane County Jail on June 23 after investigators said he had repeated access to children through public performances and babysitting. Police identified his work in Eugene and Springfield as part of the concern, with appearances at local parks and the Eugene Country Fair.

Court documents cited in later coverage said O’Neill was arraigned June 24 on two counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of first-degree sexual penetration and four counts of first-degree sex abuse. The arrest followed a June 9 sex-abuse allegation, showing the case moved from an initial report to a formal booking in less than two weeks.

Police said O’Neill’s public-facing role made the allegations especially troubling because families may have encountered him in settings that feel routine and safe, including neighborhood parks, community events and family gatherings. Investigators said he had access to children through performances and babysitting for different families, widening the number of places where parents may now need to think back and assess whether their child had contact with him.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office says the Lane County Jail in Eugene is the only county jail that can hold defendants and offenders charged with felony crimes, underscoring the seriousness of the case now before the courts. Anyone with further information or concerns about O’Neill’s contact with children is being asked to call the Springfield Police Department at 541-726-3721.