PORTLAND MAN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

March 11, 2010
• Posted in

Kenneth G. Pitts Jr. faces multiple counts of encouraging child sexual abuse

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger today announced the arrest of a North Portland man on child pornography charges.

“One of my top priorities is fighting internet predators who seek to harm our children,” said Attorney General Kroger.

Kenneth G. Pitts Jr. (9/6/67) was arrested Thursday morning after the Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit served a search warrant at the suspect’s resident on North Morris Street. Pitts was booked into the Multnomah County jail on 4 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and 12 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree.

The arrest is part of an ICAC investigation into the distribution of child pornography through the internet. The investigation, which started in December, is ongoing.

Every criminal defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

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 had 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 |