Oregon man indicted in Eugene over alleged sexual abuse of multiple children
A man was indicted at a U.S. District Court in Eugene on Wednesday after allegedly abusing multiple children in Oregon.
The man, identified as a 39-year-old from North Bend, was charged with attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and attempting to coerce and entice a minor.
According to court documents, the man on or about Jan. 20, 2024, is alleged to have knowingly and intentionally persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and record the conduct.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Eugene said the crimes involving one minor are a part of a broader series of similar abusive crimes the man is suspected to have committed involving other children around the same time.
Between April 4 and April 8, the FBI obtained multiple search warrants for his person, home, and vehicles.
On April 11, special agents and deputies with various law enforcement agencies executed the search warrants, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Oregon State Police, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Lane County Sheriff's Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment on April 16, charging the suspect with the crimes. During his arraignment Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison with a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. Attempted coercion of a minor is punishable by up to life in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon man indicted in Eugene over alleged sexual child abuse
