David B. Feathers faces 75 felony counts
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger today announced the indictment of a Molalla man on 75 counts of child pornography and sexual assault charges.
David B. Feathers (DOB: 2/12/64) was arraigned this morning on 22 counts of Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct; 22 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree; 22 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree; 4 counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree; 1 count of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the Second Degree; 3 counts of Rape in the Second Degree; and 1 count of Sodomy in the Second Degree.
Thirty one of the counts are Ballot Measure 11 crimes with mandatory minimum prison sentences.
The Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit initiated the investigation on March 2. Assisting in the investigation was the Multnomah County Child Abuse Team, an interagency task force comprised of detectives from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Gresham Police Department and the Portland Police Bureau.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
“I’d like to thank the Child Abuse Team for lending their assistance on this extremely important case,” said Attorney General Kroger.
A search warrant was executed at a Portland business on March 4. Investigators later identified the victim as a 13-year-old girl. On March 5, another search warrant was executed at a Molalla residence. Feathers was arrested March 5 at work.
A Multnomah County grand jury issued the 75-count indictment on March 12.
Every criminal defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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. Last year, Kroger announced that the Oregon Department of Justice received a $665,000 federal stimulus grant to keep the program operating.
Since 2005, more than 100 internet predators have been 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