Paul Pavlock pleaded guilty in Washington County Circuit Court to 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree

Attorney Attorney General John Kroger today announced that a Portland architect pleaded guilty to 10 child pornography counts in a case that has led to investigations across the United States and abroad.

“This case has identified more than 85 suspects in 20 states and 19 foreign countries,” said Attorney General Kroger. “Most importantly, through separate investigations, two children were identified and rescued from situations of abuse of sexual exploitation in another state.”

Paul Pavlock pleaded guilty today in Washington County Circuit Court to 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree. The Pavlock investigation has led to a number of important developments:

• The San Francisco Police Department arrested Edward Sage, the director of a nursing home in San Francisco, on July 20, 2010.
• The Texas Attorney General’s Office arrested Allen Ward, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison guard, on August 5, 2010.
• Suspects have been identified with charges pending in Mississippi and Minnesota.
• Two children, identified through separate and still ongoing investigations, were rescued from situations of abuse or sexual exploitation in another state.
• A total of 47 leads were referred through Immigration and Customs Enforcement to law enforcement agencies in 19 foreign countries. Another 39 leads were referred to Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and affiliate agencies in 20 states. The results of most of these referrals have not yet been reported back to the Oregon Department of Justice.
• Michael Price of Portland, the subject of a separate child pornography investigation, was connected to Pavlock before his arrest. Price was convicted and sentenced in Multnomah County on Feb. 5, 2010.
• A National Center for Missing and Exploited Children analysis of nearly 10,000 images and videos possessed by Pavlock identified 135 children. That vastly understates the actual number of victims who are depicted in the images and videos but have not been identified.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19.

Sr. Assistant Attorney General Andrew D. Campbell prosecuted the case for the Oregon Department of Justice.

The public is strongly encouraged to report information involving on-line sexual exploitation of children to their local law enforcement agency or to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. Tips can be submitted anonymously.

The Oregon Department of Justice ICAC unit investigates and prosecutes predators who use the internet to target and sexually exploit children. The unit works with district attorneys, law enforcement agencies and regional task forces that investigate online predators. ICAC is the only program in Oregon that is equipped with the necessary resources to catch sex predators throughout the state. Budget cuts last year threatened to end the program in Oregon, but Attorney General Kroger made restoring the funds a top public safety priority. And as a consequence of Kroger’s efforts, the Oregon Department of Justice received a $665,000 federal stimulus grant to keep the program operating.

From 2005 and 2009, 138 internet predators were convicted as a result of ICAC’s work.

Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department’s mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.

Contact:

Tony Green, (503) 378-6002 tony.green@doj.state.or.us |